*** ARCHIVED WEBSITE ***
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEBSITE IS STILL POSTED FOR REFERENCE,
BUT MOVED TO INACTIVE STATUS ON 6.30.21
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEBSITE IS STILL POSTED FOR REFERENCE,
BUT MOVED TO INACTIVE STATUS ON 6.30.21
Annual WORLD YOUTH DAY
~ Local Celebrations ~
Ideas and Resources for Parishes
Themes for upcoming WYD:
36th World Youth Day, 2021 (Local Celebrations)
2021: Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen. (Cf. Acts 26:16)
Christ the King Sunday, November 21st
37th World Youth Day, 2022
(Local Celebrations) Christ the King Sunday, November 20th
38th World Youth Day 2023
(International Gathering in Lisbon)
August TBA, 2023: “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39)
(Local Celebrations) Same theme, Christ the King Sunday, November 26
36th World Youth Day, 2021 (Local Celebrations)
2021: Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen. (Cf. Acts 26:16)
Christ the King Sunday, November 21st
37th World Youth Day, 2022
(Local Celebrations) Christ the King Sunday, November 20th
38th World Youth Day 2023
(International Gathering in Lisbon)
August TBA, 2023: “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39)
(Local Celebrations) Same theme, Christ the King Sunday, November 26
WOrld Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal
GENERAL INFORMATION
A Little History:
In 1985, Pope John Paul II invited young people to Rome for the observance of the United Nations International Year of Youth. Since that time, each year he issued a letter to youth and encouraged the Church to celebrate the gifts, talents, energy and needs of the youth. Pope Benedict XVI has continued the tradition. In some parts of the world, this took place on Palm Sunday. However, in 1988, the U.S. Bishops chose the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time due to the relevant scripture readings. But in 2020, Pope Francis changed the local celebrations for World Youth Day to coincide with the Feast of Christ the King (see dates below in yellow text box).
Every two to three years, the Holy Father invites older teens and young adults to a summer celebration of World Youth Day (i.e., last summer in Rio, Brazil and in 2016 in Poland). Even in years with these international events, parishes are encouraged to celebrate youth locally. The next is scheduled for summer 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.
PICK A LEVEL OF ACTIVITY for LOCAL CELEBRATIONS:
(On Christ the King Sundays, typically late November)
Each and every parish within the Diocese of Youngstown should be able
to at least accomplish level one.
This combined effort will unify our prayers for the young Church.
LEVEL ONE: (Nominal planning and preparation)
Place a note of thanks in your parish bulletin for the contributions of youth to the larger parish community and include at least one General
Intercession regarding the youth at the weekend liturgies.
Suggested Bulletin Announcements:
This weekend, as part of World Youth Day, (name) parish wishes to thank our teenagers for all they contribute to our parish community--
their time, energy, ideas, questions, doubts, service, joy, troubles, and love. Teens, our parish would not be the same without you!
(Parish name) recognizes the gifts, talents, energy, and assets that teenagers offer the larger parish community. On this National
Celebration of World Youth Day, we thank you, teens, for being a necessary and appreciated part of the (parish) family!
Suggested Universal Prayers (General Intercessions):
For the youth of our parish, that they will experience our community as a place of care, challenge and welcome, we pray…
For families with adolescents, that they may be blessed with joy, strength, and peace to continue their important mission in the home as
signs of Christ‘s love, we pray…
For all those who work with and walk with youth in our community, that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit to continue their
mission of love and care, we pray…
For our community of faith, that we may be open to the Spirit alive in our midst, and be moved in love to make room for the gifts and
the needs of the youth in our community, we pray…
(Adapted from the CELEBRATE YOUTH manual, © 1998 Center for Ministry Development)
LEVEL TWO: (Minimal planning and preparation)
Bulletin announcement and petition as noted in level one
Ask teens to stand at the end of Mass for a special blessing (see sample below)
Ask the coordinator for youth ministry and team members to stand for a blessing – encourage them for another year of
outreach to the teens of the parish community.
Refer to World Youth Day and the contributions of the young Church within the homily.
LEVEL THREE: (Moderate to significant planning, including a special event)
Levels one and two, plus an event or activity for World Youth Day as a staff, decide to organize a team to assist in the event planning.
The team should designate whether World Youth Day will be celebrated as…
… A day where the youth provide something for the parish:
youth serve coffee and doughnuts
youth sponsor an event for the parish
trained teens serve as Liturgical ministers Masses
…A day where adults of the parish provide something for the teens:
a reception or dinner
a fun day similar to after-prom parties
an outing to an amusement center (Swings & Things, Dave & Buster‘s, etc.)
…A day for families with teens, a.k.a. Family Fun Day at a bowling alley,
batting cages, or amusement center.
…A Family Service Day with St. Vincent de Paul or other clothing or
meal service center.
.... Study about and pray with the patron saints of World Youth Day USA:
Ideas for the youth ministry/parish team to consider:
Post pictures of the youth from various programs in areas where parishioners can see them as they enter and exit the Church.
Consider personal ‗invitations‘ to the youth and their families. Mail a postcard to the teens in your parish to let them know that it‘s a special weekend for them, and you want to celebrate with them. (A postcard allows mom/dad to see the invitation too!)
Ask your pastor to offer a verbal invitation to the assembly at each Mass during the previous weekend, and include an invitation in the bulletin throughout October.
Purchase or create book-markers for parishioners and write/label each with a name of a teen in your parish, requesting prayers for that teen throughout the year. (Can create your own, utilizing the blessing; purchase from a bookstore; or order from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, www.nfcym.org, or the Center for Ministry Development, www.cmdnet.org)
Highlight World Youth Day and your parish teens on the website or parish newsletter.
Invite local media (and the Catholic Exponent) to cover your event.
World Youth Day Blessing of Youth
God of youth,
We ask your blessing upon our young people gathered here.
You have gifted each one of them in a special and unique way.
May they come to know and share the wonder and awe that lives
within them as they grow in wisdom,
knowledge and understanding of you.
Guide and sustain them as they discern your
invitation to discipleship.
Bless their openness and enthusiasm and
allow their questions to both
enliven and challenge us as a community of believers
gathered to do your will.
Strengthen and support the many good works they do.
Challenge and provoke them along their journey of faith
so they may help lead the church into the possibilities of tomorrow.
In all these things, we ask your blessing upon them this day,
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN!
(from ―Navigating the Waters: 2003 Youth Ministry Resource Manual‖ from the National
Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, © 2003)
A Little History:
In 1985, Pope John Paul II invited young people to Rome for the observance of the United Nations International Year of Youth. Since that time, each year he issued a letter to youth and encouraged the Church to celebrate the gifts, talents, energy and needs of the youth. Pope Benedict XVI has continued the tradition. In some parts of the world, this took place on Palm Sunday. However, in 1988, the U.S. Bishops chose the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time due to the relevant scripture readings. But in 2020, Pope Francis changed the local celebrations for World Youth Day to coincide with the Feast of Christ the King (see dates below in yellow text box).
Every two to three years, the Holy Father invites older teens and young adults to a summer celebration of World Youth Day (i.e., last summer in Rio, Brazil and in 2016 in Poland). Even in years with these international events, parishes are encouraged to celebrate youth locally. The next is scheduled for summer 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.
PICK A LEVEL OF ACTIVITY for LOCAL CELEBRATIONS:
(On Christ the King Sundays, typically late November)
Each and every parish within the Diocese of Youngstown should be able
to at least accomplish level one.
This combined effort will unify our prayers for the young Church.
LEVEL ONE: (Nominal planning and preparation)
Place a note of thanks in your parish bulletin for the contributions of youth to the larger parish community and include at least one General
Intercession regarding the youth at the weekend liturgies.
Suggested Bulletin Announcements:
This weekend, as part of World Youth Day, (name) parish wishes to thank our teenagers for all they contribute to our parish community--
their time, energy, ideas, questions, doubts, service, joy, troubles, and love. Teens, our parish would not be the same without you!
(Parish name) recognizes the gifts, talents, energy, and assets that teenagers offer the larger parish community. On this National
Celebration of World Youth Day, we thank you, teens, for being a necessary and appreciated part of the (parish) family!
Suggested Universal Prayers (General Intercessions):
For the youth of our parish, that they will experience our community as a place of care, challenge and welcome, we pray…
For families with adolescents, that they may be blessed with joy, strength, and peace to continue their important mission in the home as
signs of Christ‘s love, we pray…
For all those who work with and walk with youth in our community, that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit to continue their
mission of love and care, we pray…
For our community of faith, that we may be open to the Spirit alive in our midst, and be moved in love to make room for the gifts and
the needs of the youth in our community, we pray…
(Adapted from the CELEBRATE YOUTH manual, © 1998 Center for Ministry Development)
LEVEL TWO: (Minimal planning and preparation)
Bulletin announcement and petition as noted in level one
Ask teens to stand at the end of Mass for a special blessing (see sample below)
Ask the coordinator for youth ministry and team members to stand for a blessing – encourage them for another year of
outreach to the teens of the parish community.
Refer to World Youth Day and the contributions of the young Church within the homily.
LEVEL THREE: (Moderate to significant planning, including a special event)
Levels one and two, plus an event or activity for World Youth Day as a staff, decide to organize a team to assist in the event planning.
The team should designate whether World Youth Day will be celebrated as…
… A day where the youth provide something for the parish:
youth serve coffee and doughnuts
youth sponsor an event for the parish
trained teens serve as Liturgical ministers Masses
…A day where adults of the parish provide something for the teens:
a reception or dinner
a fun day similar to after-prom parties
an outing to an amusement center (Swings & Things, Dave & Buster‘s, etc.)
…A day for families with teens, a.k.a. Family Fun Day at a bowling alley,
batting cages, or amusement center.
…A Family Service Day with St. Vincent de Paul or other clothing or
meal service center.
.... Study about and pray with the patron saints of World Youth Day USA:
- St. James the Apostle, patron of pilgrim travelers
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha, young faithful witness from our native land
- St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of missionaries and advocate for youth
- St. John Paul II, father and patron of World Youth Day
- Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron of young adults
Ideas for the youth ministry/parish team to consider:
Post pictures of the youth from various programs in areas where parishioners can see them as they enter and exit the Church.
Consider personal ‗invitations‘ to the youth and their families. Mail a postcard to the teens in your parish to let them know that it‘s a special weekend for them, and you want to celebrate with them. (A postcard allows mom/dad to see the invitation too!)
Ask your pastor to offer a verbal invitation to the assembly at each Mass during the previous weekend, and include an invitation in the bulletin throughout October.
Purchase or create book-markers for parishioners and write/label each with a name of a teen in your parish, requesting prayers for that teen throughout the year. (Can create your own, utilizing the blessing; purchase from a bookstore; or order from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, www.nfcym.org, or the Center for Ministry Development, www.cmdnet.org)
Highlight World Youth Day and your parish teens on the website or parish newsletter.
Invite local media (and the Catholic Exponent) to cover your event.
World Youth Day Blessing of Youth
God of youth,
We ask your blessing upon our young people gathered here.
You have gifted each one of them in a special and unique way.
May they come to know and share the wonder and awe that lives
within them as they grow in wisdom,
knowledge and understanding of you.
Guide and sustain them as they discern your
invitation to discipleship.
Bless their openness and enthusiasm and
allow their questions to both
enliven and challenge us as a community of believers
gathered to do your will.
Strengthen and support the many good works they do.
Challenge and provoke them along their journey of faith
so they may help lead the church into the possibilities of tomorrow.
In all these things, we ask your blessing upon them this day,
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN!
(from ―Navigating the Waters: 2003 Youth Ministry Resource Manual‖ from the National
Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, © 2003)
Future Dates for The Feast of Christ the King/WYD Local Celebrations:
- November 21, 2021
- November 20, 2022
- November 26, 2023
- November 24, 2024
- November 23, 2025
- November 22, 2026
- November 21, 2027
- November 26, 2028
- November 25, 2029
- November 24, 2030
===============================================
The U.S. Bishops posted:
World Youth Day is not just a day or an experience,
but an ongoing pilgrimage of faith for young people.
These special days and celebrations are meant to rejuvenate and
reinvigorate the spiritual life of youth and young adults along their pilgrim journey,
which ultimately leads to Christ Jesus.
World Youth Day is not just a day or an experience,
but an ongoing pilgrimage of faith for young people.
These special days and celebrations are meant to rejuvenate and
reinvigorate the spiritual life of youth and young adults along their pilgrim journey,
which ultimately leads to Christ Jesus.
A few key thoughts on and questions from the Holy Father's message for me were:
-- Jesus LIVED the Beatitudes
-- Do I truly want to be happy?
-- Do I allow myself to be a beggar before God?
-- How do I view "the poor"?
-- How do I work with teens/families to help build the kingdom of God
-- Jesus LIVED the Beatitudes
-- Do I truly want to be happy?
-- Do I allow myself to be a beggar before God?
-- How do I view "the poor"?
-- How do I work with teens/families to help build the kingdom of God