7 Ways To Be Part Of World Youth Day

by Evangelization, World Youth Day, World's View

If you’re like me, you might be struggling just a tiny bit with envy as you watch Catholic social media explode over World Youth Day this week. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the international event that gathers millions of young Catholics from all parts of the world.

But that won’t stop me from being a part of the celebration! It shouldn’t stop you either. We are blessed to live in a day and age when technology makes far-off places and events more accessible than ever.  There are some great resources available to those unable to make the pilgrimage.

World Youth Day Media Coverage:

1. The Lisboa 2023 App

The Pilgrim App is free and available through the official webpage for World Youth Day 2023.  Though it is designed to be used by those attending the event, there are so many other features that everyone will find it useful for spiritual growth.  You’ll be able to find several prayers and some of the songs they will sing at WYD.

2. Shalom World

Shalom World will be live streaming many of the WYD events.  Just click play on the video above, and you will be able to watch what is currently taking place live.

3. EWT

https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live

EWTN will offer extensive coverage both on the website and television channel.  Tune in:

Tuesday, Aug. 1 @ 3 p.m. ET- EWTN’s one-hour Preview Show, which will air just before the Opening Mass at 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Aug. 2 @ 4:00 a.m. ET – Special Coverage: World Youth Day Portugal

Thursday, Aug. 3 @ 11:30 a.m. – Welcoming Ceremony

Friday, Aug. 4 @ 12:30 p.m. – The Way of the Cross devotion

Saturday, Aug 5 @ 4 a.m. ET – Live coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to Fatima;

Saturday, Aug 5 @ 2:00 p.m. ET – Vigil Mass

Sunday, Aug 6 @ 3:00 a.m. ET – Closing Mass (encore at 5 p.m. ET.)

4. Salt & Light Media

https://slmedia.org/live

Salt & Light Media is another wonderful Catholic media outlet that will have live broadcasts and reports on the latest WYD events.

5. WorldYouthDay.com

WYD is open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter centered on Jesus Christ together with their peers. This event is an opportunity to personally experience the universality of the Catholic Church, and to share with the whole world the hope of many young people who are committing their lives to Christ and His Church. World Youth Day is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, through prayer and the sacraments, together with hundreds of thousands of other young people who share your interests and ambitions

6. Check with your local diocese

ries, and gathering of young people to commemorate World Youth Day. Check with our local dioces for more information!

7. Explore The Offical World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 Website

“The edition of 2023 is organized by the Patriarchate of Lisbon. With this purpose, the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, formed the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the WYD Lisbon 2023, an executive organ to prepare the organization of the WYD Lisbon 2023 which is formed by the auxiliary Bishops of Lisbon D. Américo Aguiar e D. Joaquim Mendes and by the executive secretary Duarte Ricciardi.

WYD Lisbon 2023 is organized by the Local Organizing Committee, jointly and in close cooperation, with the Government of Portugal and the City Council of Lisbon, Loures, Oeiras and Cascais, and has been granted the High Patronage of the Portuguese Republic.”

Dear young people, now is the time to set out in haste towards concrete encounters, towards genuine acceptance of those different from ourselves. This was the case with the young Mary and the elderly Elizabeth. Only thus will we bridge distances – between generations, social classes, ethnic and other groups – and even put an end to wars. Young people always represent the hope for new unity within our fragmented and divided human family. But only if they can preserve memory, only if they can hear the dramas and dreams of the elderly. “It is no coincidence that war is returning to Europe at a time when the generation that experienced it in the last century is dying out” (Message for the 2022 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly). We need the covenant between young and old, lest we forget the lessons of history; we need to overcome all the forms of polarization and extremism present in today’s world.
Saint Paul, writing to the Ephesians, announced that, “now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (2:13-14). Jesus is God’s response to the challenges facing humanity in every age. Mary carries that response within her when she goes to visit Elizabeth. The greatest gift that Mary brings to her elderly kinswoman is that of Jesus himself. Certainly, the concrete assistance she offered was most valuable. Yet nothing could have filled the house of Zechariah with such great joy and satisfaction as the presence of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin, now a tabernacle of the living God. In that mountain village, Jesus, by his mere presence and without uttering a word, preached his first “Sermon on the Mount”. He silently proclaimed the beatitude of the poor and the meek who trust in God’s mercy.
My message for you, dear young people, the great message entrusted to the Church, is Jesus! Yes, Jesus himself, in his infinite love for each of us, his salvation and the new life he has bestowed upon us. Mary is our model; she shows us how to welcome this immense gift into our lives, to share it with others, and thus to bring Christ, his compassionate love and his generous service to our deeply wounded humanity.

Pope Francis

We encourage you to find a way to interact with the World Youth Day pilgrims in Lisbon on social media. As you fast and prayer for the youth of the Catholic Church, take time to learn their stories, watch their videos, admire their photos. Prepare to be amazed at the faith of this generation! This is the hope our world needs.

This is an exciting week for the young people of our Catholic Church.  Pray for them to receive all that God is ready to pour out upon them to renew and revitalize our faith! Pray for conversations. Pray for vocations.

ST. John Paul II, Pray for us!

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