Why it is now time for the Bishops & CYMFED to Bring World Youth Day to the UK!!
Catholic Herald's article supporting WYD-UK
CatholicYouthWork.com's article discussing WYD-UK
The latest Catholic Herald article highlighting WYD-UK
1. The
presence of 2 million faith filled young people in London will be the
largest witness to Jesus Christ Britain has ever seen.
2. Evangelisation in Britain is on the verge of extinction within the Catholic Church (harsh but true). WYD-UK is the defibrillator that UK Catholic evangelisation needs. In fact it may in fact be the ONLY solution to the problem.
3.
Leading on from the last point, leaders within the UK Catholic Church
talk about the 'New Evangelisation'. With the exception of a few
organisation such as Youth 2000, it has never really taken off (in fact
very few Catholics actually know what it is). It is ironic that it is
the evangelical and pentecostal churches that have fully understood the
'New Evangelisation' and utilised it to the nth degree. You only have
to look at Soul Survivor to see that the Catholic Church is running to
catch up. They have taken an idea thought up by JPII and beaten us at
our own game. I state once again, WYD-UK is the defibrillator that UK Catholic evangelisation needs. In fact it may in fact be the ONLY solution to the problem.
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4.
The years running up to WYD-UK will be an opportunity to galvanise
our Catholic Church at grass roots level all the way up to the top.
However, it is imperative that we now run with the Bishop's five year
mission focusing on evangelisation & witness. There needs to be
greater Catholic visibility in our towns and cities with Corpus Christ
processions, crownings of Mary, and other re-established feast day
Eucharistic & Marian walks of witness. It is now imperative that
we invite missionaries from the newly Catholicised countries in Africa
and Asia to re-evangelise the secular West because we have forgotten
how to. This Bishop's five year mission leading up to WYD and beyond is
imperative to any future success.
5. Britain is the only major western world country never to have hosted a WYD. Embarrassing isn't it?
6.
In deciding the location of a WYD the Pontifical Council for Laity
look for where renewal is needed in the Church and renewal is
definitely required in Britain. Bearing in mind that we are the only
major western country never to hold WYD there is little chance that
the PCL would turn down the request. I would also be very surprised if
Michelle Moran, our present UK representative and founder of the Zion
Catholic Community, did not fully endorse putting this forward to the
PCL.
7.
There is another serious factor here which must not be overlooked.
Pope Benedict has personally placed the renewal of Catholicism in
England at the heart of his pontificate. If you think I am
exaggerating then let us look at the facts. The Personal Ordinariate of
Our Lady of Walsingham has been overseen by Benedict at every turn. As
well as this it is unusual for a Pope to preside over a beatification.
However, it as been stated many times that Pope Benedict personally
wanted to celebrate the beatification Mass of Cardinal John Henry
Newman (who Fr. Lombardy has already stated will become a Doctor of the
Church after his canonisation). I believe the conversion of England is
very much in Pope Benedict's plans and in light of his actions so far
one would assume that WYD-UK would be a more than an acceptable
proposition to him.
8. Do not let anyone tell you that it will be too expensive. Many poorer countries have held WYD.
9.
Do not let anyone tell you that we can't afford it because of the
expense of the 2010 UK Papal Visit. That will be paid off by next
Easter.
10. Do not
let anyone tell you we can't afford it because of the recession. We
are looking at 2019 at the earliest before we can host WYD (though
possibly earlier).
.
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11. Even the Catholic Youth Work website has
now said in their own words regarding WYD-UK, that 2019 is "Timing,
which might be about right for us..." (see link)! This is a back down
from a web site that has consistantly played down the idea of WYD-UK in
the near future. I do want to be fair and also state that this web-site
has also said that a better youth work infra-structure will have to be
put in place first which is only fair.
13. I have been informed by one person reasonably high up in UK youth ministry that the Bishop's initiative would lead us to the point where WYD-UK would be a probable and natural outcome of the Bishop's five year mission. (Just to keep the catholicyouthwork.com site happy, this information did not come from them). It came from a separate source.
12. WYD-UK is
a massive opportunity for all UK Catholics to commit to pray for the
Conversion of England once again (let alone those with a devotion to
Our Lady of Walsingham). Part of this five year mission should be to start praying the Prayer for England, after Mass again, like we used to.
13. I have been informed by one person reasonably high up in UK youth ministry that the Bishop's initiative would lead us to the point where WYD-UK would be a probable and natural outcome of the Bishop's five year mission. (Just to keep the catholicyouthwork.com site happy, this information did not come from them). It came from a separate source.
14.
Just like Madrid, 2 million people at WYD-UK would bring in a massive
boost to our economy and probably just at the right time (and at no
cost to the British tax payer).
Our Lady of Walsingham - Pray for World Youth Day to come to Britain as a witness to Christ and his Church.
I agree with all of the above. Bring on world youth day UK. :-)
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