GENERAL OUTLINE OF WYD 2002

1. Theme
"You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world" (Mt 5:13,14)

The message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World on the occasion of the 17th World Youth Day was published on 25th July 2001. The Pontifical Council for the Laity has sent copies of it to Bishops' Conferences and to international Movements, Associations and Communities. It is also available on the Vatican website on the internet: www.vatican.va.


2. Programme of celebrations, July 23-28

World Youth Day is officially opened at the Mass of Welcome presided by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic at Exhibition Place in the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd July.

The traditional catechesis will be given by bishops from all over the world and will take place in different languages in churches and halls around Toronto each morning of 24th, 25th 26th July.

The Way of the Cross will take place in several locations on the evening of Friday 26th July. The main procession will go through the city centre starting off from City Hall.

Friday 26th will be a special day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the lakeshore. The Sacrament will be available in the churches each day during WYD.

Youth Festival activities will take place in the afternoons and evenings (24th - 26th July).

The culmination of World Youth Day will be the Vigil with the Holy Father in Downsview Park on Saturday night, 27th July and the Papal Mass on the morning of Sunday 28th July.

3. Youth Festival

The purpose of the Youth Festival is to allow young people from all over the world to share their artistic, religious and spiritual experiences of faith and life.
These activities will take place during the afternoons and evenings of Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th, and Friday 26th (except for the time dedicated to the Way of the Cross) in various locations around Toronto.

4. Hospitality in the Canadian Dioceses (18th to 21st July)

It has become a tradition of World Youth Day for the dioceses of the host country to offer hospitality for several days to young pilgrims on their way to the WYD Host City. The dioceses of Canada (with the exception of Toronto, the host city for WYD 2002) extend this invitation to all groups who would like to avail of this opportunity.

The people of the host dioceses will welcome their guests into their homes, parishes and communities. Activities will include prayer, pilgrimage, social service, tourism and friendly gatherings.

Host dioceses offer simple accommodation free of charge. Travel costs to the final destination within the host diocese and between the host diocese and Toronto have to be met by the participants.