Those travelling down Whytewold Road early on the morning of Thursday, 10 January would have passed a huge cross at the junction with Silver Avenue, on the east side of Whytewold. What was this cross and why were people gathered so early on even a pleasant January morning in Manitoba? This was the World Youth Day cross, welcomed on its journey to Toronto.

The 17 Wing Community Chapel welcomed the World Youth Day Cross with celebrations over 9 and 10 January. The first took place at the cenotaph of Kapyong Barracks at 1900 hours on 9 January, led by the 2 PPCLI Chaplain, Padre Brad Busch. He was the first Lutheran minister ever to preside at a service of prayer on the occasion of a visit to Canada of the World Youth Day Cross. At 2000 hours the cross was carried to the North-Site chapel, on Silver Street. There Padre Guy Chapdelaine, the Roman Catholic Chapel Life Co-ordinator presided at an ecumenical service with 100 members of both the Roman Catholic and Protestant congregations. Padre Doug Ohs, Wing Chaplain, Padre John Wilcox, 1 CAD Chaplain, Padre Terry Cherwick and Padre Brad Busch participated in the service of prayer. The service opened with greetings, then the cross was carried in by a group of youth who will represent 17 Wing at the World Youth Day in Toronto next July. At 2100 hours, the youth choir of St Mary's Cathedral led "the Taize Prayer Service", a service of prayers in song, very popular among the youth. This opportunity to receive the message through the beauty of music was a moving experience for all present.

Early on the morning of 10 January a group of military personnel and 17 Wing Community Chapel parishioners gathered at the corner of Whytewold and Silver to highlight the visit of the World Youth Day Cross to 17 Wing and, at the same time, to give personnel arriving at 17 Wing an opportunity to see the cross that will be at the centre of the youth-gathering in Toronto 22 to 28 July, 2002.

For 17 years, the World Youth Day Cross has touched all five continents and traversed seven countries, serving as a central symbol and an effective catalyst for the preparation of World Youth Days. In 1984, Pope John Paul II entrusted a simple wooden cross to the youth of the world. This cross, like every other, reminds us of God's great love for His people.

At the conclusion of Palm Sunday mass in St Peter's Square on 8 April, 2001 young people of Rome handed over the World Youth Day Cross to their Canadian peers, in preparation for the next World Youth Day. The cross arrived in Manitoba 29 December and has been shared here by the Archdioceses of Winnipeg and St Boniface, the Ukrainian Archeparchy, and the Military Ordinariate parishes. It left the province on 14 January. We at 17 Wing were honoured to have this symbol of faith 9 and 10 January, 2002.

Young Christians from over 150 countries are expected to converge on Toronto for World Youth Day 2002, to learn about and to celebrate their faith. Celebrations will culminate with a closing mass celebrated by the Pope, His Holiness John Paul II, in Downview Park. Downview is the site of the former Canadian Forces Base Toronto (also known as the Royal Canadian Air Force Station Downview, prior to integration of the three military services). Participation in all events is expected to exceed 750,000.

Padre Guy Chapdelaine