World Youth Day - essential information for all groups

MELBOURNE: 8th October 2007 -- World Youth Day (WYD) takes place in Sydney, Australia, in July 2008.
    Commencing on Tuesday 15 July, there will be a series of catechesis sessions, youth festivals, and prayer opportunities, which culminate in an outdoor Mass with Pope Benedict XVI.
    Before WYD programme in Sydney there are ‘Days in the Dioceses’ programmes in various dioceses throughout Australia
    All groups can register for WYD by going to the official website www.wyd2008.org.  All Salesian groups should make this registration first - and in doing so can indicate where they want to make use of the 'Days in the Diocese' programmes (cf. below). If arriving beforehand, Melbourne would be an obvious choice.
    Registration for Salesian events can be done, once the form is made available, on the Australian Salesian website at www.sdb.org.au .  Keep an eye on that website, which will alert readers to the availability of the official registration online for the Salesian events described below. The actual registration form is expected to be made available in November 2007. It is recommended that you make your registration for WYD on their official website as soon as possible, and on the Australian Salesian website for Salesian events by the end of November if possible.

There will be two significant Salesian World Youth Day events, each with a separate programme of activities, celebrations and prayer.
(1) one in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Days in the Diocese prior to World Youth Day
o       Friday 11 July 2008 at Salesian College Chadstone
o       Combined with other Melbourne Days in the Diocese (DID08) activities
o       A day of Salesian festivity, prayer, cultural activities and joyful celebrations of the Salesian youth spirituality in action
o       Join Salesian Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez of Honduras, Salesian Bishop Tim Costelloe of Melbourne and young Salesians from around the world

(2) another in Sydney as part of the World Youth Day programme
o       A day of joyful, youth oriented and faith-filled activities
o       St John Bosco Parish Engadine Sydney

Further details will be communicated on the above website.  Stay tuned.

Important Information for International Salesian Groups

    Please note that participation in WYD is primarily facilitated by local dioceses in each group’s home country.  The Australian Salesians cannot assist with accommodation during WYD.  Please register using the official WYD website (www.wyd2008.org) to confirm your participation. 
    There is a separate registration process for the Salesian WYD celebrations, but this will not provide the option of accommodation at Salesian venues, as these are being utilised by the WYD organising committee.  Transport arrangements between and within Melbourne and Sydney are the responsibility of pilgrim groups.  The Australian Salesians cannot provide transport for visiting pilgrims.
    English will be the official language of the Salesian World Youth Day Programmes.  Some speakers and activities may use languages other than English for some or all of their presentations.  All activities, programmes and prayer will seek to maximise participation, understanding and involvement in ways that move beyond the language barrier.  We may speak different languages but we all share the spirit and mission of Don Bosco.  We all know how to celebrate – this is a common Salesian characteristic and we believe that language will not be a barrier to having fun.