World Youth Day

World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world!! Young people gather from almost every nation on earth in a week long celebration of faith, friendship and fun!

World Youth Day is organised by the Catholic Church and was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is celebrated at a diocesan (state) level every year, and every 2 - 3 years it is marked with a week long international celebration at a different location around the world. To see where World Youth Day's have been held in the past click here. World Youth Day is a growing phenomenon, it has become the largest mobilisation of young people in the world.

The World Youth Day week itself is marked with traditional events, such as, Opening Mass, Arrival of Pope, Stations of the Cross, Pilgrimage Walk

& Final Mass. To find out more about what happens during a WYD week, click here.

Every World Youth Day has its own theme chosen by the Pope and its own logo. Preparation activities as well as events at World Youth Day are based around this theme, issues concerning young people, their faith and their Church. The theme for World Youth Day 2011 is 'Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in Faith' (Col 2:7).

Going to a World Youth Day is about Pilgrimage, it is about the journey. From throughout the world, young people will make a pilgrimage in faith, meet and experience hospitality and the love of God. A World Youth Day Pilgrimage is a great opportunity to explore and learn about yourself, your faith, your life direction, your relationships with others and with God; to learn about and explore the Tasmanian, Australian and World Church. You will make new life-long friendships and treasured memories, and have a WHOLE heaps of fun doing it!!