Young Adults, ages 18-39, are invited to participate in World Youth Day USA, July 30, 2016, at McNease Convention Center in San Angelo. This stateside celebration will be held the same day as World Youth Day Vigil in Krakow, Poland. Eleven pilgrims representing the San Angelo Diocese will be going to Krakow, July 24- August 1. They will connect via skype with the local group sometime during the day.
The Pilgrim Cross follows the example of the original Pilgrim Cross blessed at St. Peter’s in Rome by Pope Francis on Palm Sunday. It will travel to Poland for World Youth Day in July. Bill Ruiz made the Pilgrim Cross for the diocese that was blessed at the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo by Bishop Michael Sis on Palm Sunday before traveling through the diocese to different parishes (schedule, page 5). A resource booklet for the Pilgrim Cross event has been developed by Howard Pope. In addition to the Pilgrim Cross, personal intercessions to be lifted up in prayer will be collected and taken to the holy sites by the diocesan pilgrims visiting Poland.
WYDUSA will include catechesis by the bishop, workshops, Praise and Worship by Sacred Sound, opportunities for Reconciliation, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, cultural displays, dance and music by our various cultural and ethnic groups, vocation displays, organization displays, lunch, and the Holy Eucharist (Sunday Vigil).
The diocese invites all young adults to participate in this WYD celebration and experience the richness of our Church. Young adults are also invited to share their many gifts with the Church.
The committee organizing the event is composed of Roselva Ruiz, Chair, Holy Redeemer-Odessa; Bill Ruiz, Holy Redeemer-Odessa; Linda Navarro, St. MaryOdessa; Penny and Howard Pope, Holy Family-Abilene, and Sister Adelina Garcia, OSF, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, sponsor of the event. The committee met with the pastors at deanery meetings to inform them of the event and about the Kick-Off with the Pilgrim Cross.