STORY - "You(th) Better Believe It "

World Youth Day, Rome , Italy , 2000: 2 million participants

Toronto , Canada , 2002: 800 000 participants

Cologne , Germany , 2005: 1.2 million participants

Sydney , Australia , 2008 ?????

World Youth Day, despite these large numbers, has a distinct and meaningful aim - to bring young people to the church. Furthermore, it serves to unite youth who are linked by faith from all cultures and walks of life.

Pope John Paul II, who established World Youth Day (WYD) in 1984, said “The Church has much to say to young people, and they have much to say to the Church. This mutual dialogue must be open-hearted, clear and courageous. It fosters encounter between the generations and becomes a source of wealth and youth for the church and society.”

WYD08 will be the first in the Australasian region. At least 500,000 young people are expected to join the celebration in July 2008.

Seconded from his teaching position at St Paul 's, Booragul, Luke Edwards, who belongs to the parish of Toronto , was invited to become the WYD Co-ordinator for the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. He had already travelled to Rome to receive the World Youth Day Cross and Icon from Pope Benedict XVI on Palm Sunday 2006. A member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council since 2003, Luke's involvement with young people and the diocese generally made him well suited to the role.

Luke believes that the event could serve as a powerful catalyst for change in the way people, especially the young, perceive the church and what it has to offer.

“I would hope that (people) will see that the church has relevance, that it's not just something that people see as making rules; that it promotes a way of life that is hopeful, that is positive, that is able to speak to and challenge a modern world,” he said.

As part of his role as Diocesan WYD Co-ordinator, Luke has been developing the itinerary for the Cross and Icon when they arrive in the diocese in July. Promotion of associated diocesan events is in its initial stages.

Many proposals are already on the drawing board. For the Journey of the Cross and Icon in our diocese from 23-30 July this year, each region will have the opportunity to gather at iconic landscapes such as our waterways, vineyards and even sand dunes to encounter these rich symbols. A pilgrimage unique to our diocese along part of the Great North Walk and Sydney 's northern beaches is being planned, as well as an ‘open day' at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Organising events appealing to youth is central and essential to the success of diocesan WYD celebrations of the Cross and Icon visit. Young people will be included in all stages of planning.

“A key question is ‘How are you going to encourage young people to be involved?'. I will be going out of my way to make any event, be it the Cross and the Icon or the Days in the Diocese, something that resonates with young people,” Luke said.

Young people are able to be involved in many ways. Aside from travelling to WYD Week in Sydney , young people can assist in the Days in the Diocese, during which international pilgrims are hosted for a week within family homes. This has great potential as a means through which young people within our community can meet people from all over the world.

Other means of participating are also available. An online “e-pilgrimage” accessible through www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en offers a way for local and international youth to be involved if they are unable to travel to the celebration or act as a host by providing newsletters and information via the internet.

Another development of interest is what is currently termed a “Pilgrim Partnership” programme. “We are currently considering, through the assistance of Catholic Mission, a programme in which we might be able to bring to our diocese people from within the Oceania region and indigenous communities who could not afford to come to World Youth Day. As part of this, we may be able to send students to these targeted communities, so that when the people come they have a familiarity with the people and the community,” Luke said.

Older members of the diocesan community have not been left out of the celebrations with many opportunities to be involved. A particular need is assistance in hosting international pilgrims, directly or by supporting other families who have offered to do so. Assisting in promoting and staging associated events are other ways to be involved.

Luke is looking forward to the fruition of his efforts and the realisation of the possibilities after WYD. In particular, he hopes that the celebration will be able to unite youth in our diocesan community and reintroduce them to the church.

“One of my key roles after WYD is to provide some type of support. Lots of people have questions and concerns, but also good things to share, so I've been looking at ways of getting people together to debrief.”

Luke is also hoping that sharing experiences with visitors from all around the globe as well as from our own local and indigenous communities will educate young people, removing prejudices and challenging the levels of discrimination that have become more profound through occurrences such as the Cronulla riots. Conversation with Luke only serves to highlight his commitment to the cause of youth.

“I want young people to reach a sense of meaning that empowers them and shows them that everything is okay. We want them to know that the church can offer and provide that.”

Simon O'Brien
St Mary's Campus, All Saints College

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