Te Papa the venue for peak of Days in the Diocese

‘Days in the Diocese’ is the formal lead up to World Youth Day.

In July the Wellington Archdiocese will welcome about 230 international pilgrims from as far afield as Poland and Sierra Leone. They will join over 600 of our own pilgrims in preparation for World Youth Day in Sydney. A week of celebration, service and worship is planned and everyone is invited to join in.

Hosting the International pilgrims will happen in pastoral areas where it is hoped that as many people as possible will gather to meet and greet the visitors and to take part in the lead up to World Youth Day.

Both North and South Island communities are involved, with committees working hard either side of Cook Strait to ensure everyone can be involved in the major events and in the service days.

In Wellington a Mass of Welcome at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Monday July 7 will begin the week formally. There will be opportunities through the week for the pilgrims to experience time on a marae,and in local communities and to give something back to those communities through service projects.

The high point of the week is to be a huge celebration on the evening of Thursday July 10 for which Te Papa has been booked. It is hoped that up to 2000 people will attend. Publicity will be through church notices and Wel-com, but mark your diary now!

In Nelson the top of the South will join together to extend warm hospitality to 67 Irish pilgrims. There will be worship, shared meals, opportunities to experience the local national parks and culture, and a large community Mass, a shared meal and celebration on Friday July 11. Accommodation opportunities are being explored to enable as many people as possible from Blenheim, Kaikoura and the West Coast to take part.

Picture shows WYD pilgrim, Katy Dai, singing for her fare to Sydney for a Focolare Movement fundrainser at La Bella Italia restaurant in March.