World Youth Day Pilgrimage Krakow, Poland July 23 – August 3, 2016 Matthew 5:7

World Youth Day Itinerary 2016   July 23 Depart Houston for Warsaw July 24 Arrive Warsaw, transfer to Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa which houses the miraculous image of the Black Madonna, the most important Marian Shrine in Poland, dinner and overnight in Krakow July 25 Day trip to Zakopane for hiking and reflection (more details to come) July 26 Morning walking tour of Krakow, Opening ceremonies begin this afternoon July 27 Morning catechesis, WYD events July 28 Morning catechesis, afternoon Welcoming Ceremonies with our Holy Father July 29 Morning catechesis, WYD events including Stations of the Cross July 30 Morning pilgrimage, evening vigil with our Holy Father July 31 Morning Mass with our Holy Father, pilgrimage back to accommodations August 1 Day trip to Auschwitz, where over one million people perished including St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Edith Stein, followed by a journey into the mind of Marian Koldziej, a Polish Catholic artist at a nearby Franciscan monastery. Later spend time at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, dinner and overnight. August 2 Day trip to Wadowice, the birth place of Pope St. John Paul II. Visit the home where Karol Wojtyla was born and raised as well as the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary where has was baptized. Later visit Kalwaria, a favorite retreat of Pope St. John Paul II, followed by the Be not Afraid Shrine in Krakow, dinner and overnight August 3 Depart for Houston Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

World Youth Day Itinerary 2016   July 23 Depart Houston for Warsaw July 24 Arrive Warsaw, transfer to Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa which houses the miraculous image of the Black Madonna, the most important Marian Shrine in Poland, dinner and overnight in Krakow  July 25 Day trip to Zakopane for hiking and reflection (more details to come) July 26 Morning walking tour of Krakow, Opening ceremonies begin this afternoon July 27 Morning catechesis, WYD events July 28 Morning catechesis, afternoon Welcoming Ceremonies with our Holy Father July 29 Morning catechesis, WYD events including Stations of the Cross July 30 Morning pilgrimage, evening vigil with our Holy Father July 31 Morning Mass with our Holy Father, pilgrimage back to accommodations August 1 Day trip to Auschwitz, where over one million people perished including St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Edith Stein, followed by a journey into the mind of Marian Koldziej, a Polish Catholic artist at a nearby Franciscan monastery. Later spend time at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, dinner and overnight. August 2 Day trip to Wadowice, the birth place of Pope St. John Paul II. Visit the home where Karol Wojtyla was born and raised as well as the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary where has was baptized. Later visit Kalwaria, a favorite retreat of Pope St. John Paul II, followed by the Be not Afraid Shrine in Krakow, dinner and overnight August 3 Depart for Houston Matthew 5:7

VIDEOS Matthew 5:7 If you are having trouble viewing the video panes to the left please “enable” or unblock on your browser

Pope Francis, WYD 2013 Brazil I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. Pope Francis, WYD 2013 Brazil Matthew 5:7

Interested? Please talk to you parents about it – share this PowerPoint with them (on the website under Student Life)… If you’re still interested, come to a more formal informational meeting during lunch THIS THURSDAY. We’ll eat and meet upstairs! Parent information meetings will be Wednesday, Jan. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the assembly room. Matthew 5:7

Official World Youth Day Krakow 2016 Website http://www.krakow2016.com/en/ “Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them” - the theme for WYD Krakow 2016   In Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis  said: “Look, read the Beatitudes: that will do you good!” He asked the young people to read the Beatitudes again and to make them the action plan for their lives. Matthew 5:7 Three elements are combined in the symbolism of the logo: the place, the main protagonists, and the theme of WYD. The logo of the World Youth Day, to be held in Krakow, illustrates the passage from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”, chosen as the theme of the event. The image is composed of a geographical outline of Poland in which there is a Cross, symbol of Christ who is the soul of World Youth Day. The yellow circle marks the position of Krakow on the map of Poland and is also a symbol of youth. The flame of Divine Mercy emerges from the Cross, and its colours recall the image “Jesus, I trust in you”. The colours used in the logo – blue, red and yellow – are the official colours of Krakow and its coat of arms.