Diocese of Gary Office for Youth & Young Adults
Pilgrimage to France & Spain for

World Youth Day 2011
August 12-22, 2011

Follow along with WYD pilgrims from the Diocese of Gary, blogging and posting pix from the journey!

Complete NWIC news story

Photo gallery

Mike Byers blog (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Valparaiso)

Pat O'Donnell's WYD YouTube videos

Our Lady of Sorrows Facebook Page

Misc. WYD Stuff from Kev, includes updated photo summary of trip

Kevin Driscoll's Facebook Page
 

 

ITINERARY: DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE

We salute our pilgrims who have made many sacrifices, attended and organized lots of fundraisers and spent thousands of hours over the last two years preparing for the chance to join an expected one million-plus youth and young adults from all over the world.

Their pilgrimage through France & Spain—including Lourdes & Avila— includes prayer, catechesis, informal gatherings, a Vigil and Mass with the Holy Father, and more.

Please remember in prayer these World Youth Day Pilgrims from the Diocese of Gary:

Diocese of Gary: Most Reverend Dale J. Melczek • Kevin Driscoll

Gary Cluster Community: Gilbert King III

St. James the Less, Highland: Patrick O'Donnell

Our Lady of Sorrows, South Haven: Anna Demmon • Shannon Kolosci • Joe Kolosci • Maurizio Lovinello • Victoria Perez • Jade Sleaford • Shana Sutton • Gretchen Sutton • Dawn Trowbridge • Timmy Trowbridge • Donna Trowbridge • Dawn Widener • Mackenzie Widener • Rev. John Zemelko

St. Andrew, Merrillville: Kat Gaines • Peter Gaines

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Valparaiso: Andy Byers • Steven Byers • Michael Byers • Kevin Dywan • Jillian Esposito • Kelly Hoehn • Stephanie Ivanovich • Bella Popovich • Stacy Vervynckt

St. Patrick, Chesterton: Kim Morton • Emily Morton

+ 19 pilgrims from St. John the Evangelist, St. John who are attending World Youth Day as well!

 

Not going to Spain, but wanna' do something special for World Youth Day? Plan to go to Des Plaines, Illinois! World Youth Day – Chicago Style II is being planned to emulate the events in Madrid with young pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Chicago and the entire Midwest. This special regional initiative will take place at the Maryville Academy Our Lady Of Guadalupe Chapel in Des Plaines, Illinois (off Tri-State Tollway, just north of O'Hare) on August 20 and 21, during which the youth will view a telecast of the Holy Father’s homily at the Closing Mass in Madrid. Click here for the latest info from the event's organizers with the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Other ways to enjoy World Youth Day from home:

EWTN has complete television coverage of WYD. Click here for EWTN's World Youth Day page. Click here to find out which channel EWTN can be found on your TV.

USCCB's World Youth Day Site

Official WYD Site

WYD Social Networks

Over 30 pilgrims from throughout Northwest Indiana will board a plane August 12 bound for an unforgettable, life-changing faith experience. Pilgrims with the diocesan group will celebrate their faith with youth and young adults from all over the world in prayer, catechesis, informal gatherings, and an amazing pilgrimage through France & Spain on their way to World Youth Day 2011!

International World Youth Day 2011 will be held in Madrid, Spain, and the Diocese of Gary Office for Youth & Young Adults has organized an all-inclusive package that includes all WYD festivities, including opening ceremonies, catechesis, prayer experiences, vigil, and closing liturgy with the Holy Father. Additionally, the group will journey on a memorable pilgrimage with Bishop Melczek leading to Madrid that will include two days in Lourdes, France, a day trip to Avila, Spain, a visit to Zaragoza, Spain, religious formation, liturgy, community building and more.


LINK TO OFFICIAL WYD 2011 WEBSITE



Pictures from the May 1st Pre-pilgrimage Stations of the Cross Experience with Bishop Melczek click here


WYD Prayer: download/print this Prayer for World Youth Day 2011, courtesy the Archdiocese of Baltimore



WYD on Facebook
 


MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE TWENTY-SIXTH WORLD YOUTH DAY (2011)


LINK TO USCCB WYD 2011 WEBSITE
 

Detailed Itinerary


CLICK HERE FOR PILGRIM NOTES


Payment Schedule:

December 1, 2009.............$100*
March 1, 2010..................$300
August 1, 2010.................$500
January 5, 2011.................$500
April 1, 2011.......$2500 (balance)

Initial $100 deposit must be received by Dec. 1 to guarantee your participation.

* If you are not currently attending but are still interested in attending WYD with the Diocese of Gary, contact Kevin Driscoll ASAP: 219-769-9292 x229.

"We could never afford that!" Read this article, Thoughts on fundraising your way to World Youth Day, written by an experienced WYD fundraiser. ( download/print the article here)