Offical WYD Prayer

Oh, Father, You sent Your Eternal Son to save the world and chose men and women, through Him, with Him and in Him, to proclaim the Good News to all nations. Grant us the graces necessary so that joy may shine in the faces of all young people, the joy of being, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the evangelists the Church needs in the Third Millennium.

Oh Christ, Redeemer of humanity, the image of Your open arms on the top of Corcovado welcomes all people. In Your paschal offering, You brought us by the Holy Spirit to an encounter of sonship with the Father. Young people, who are fed by Eucharist, hear You in Your Word and meet You as their brother, need your infinite mercy to run the paths of the world missionary-disciples of the New Evangelization.

Oh Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son, with the splendor of Your Truth and the fire of Your Love, send Your Light to all young people so that, driven by their experience of World Youth Day, they may bring to the four corners of the world faith, hope and charity, becoming great builders of a culture of life and peace and catalysts of a new world.

Amen !

Pilgrimage Expectations

As we prepare for our pilgrimage to Rio, pilgrims and other interested parties should keep in mind a variety of diocesan expectations.  Among these is attendance of WYD Preparatory Gatherings.  Details for these gatherings are as follows:

DIOCESAN WORLD YOUTH DAY GATHERINGS

Friday, December 28 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Sacred Heart Parish in Philip, SD*

Friday, May 31 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Terra Sancta Retreat Center, Rapid City, SD*

Likewise, we hope that the pilgrims are making their own spiritual preparation for the trip.  As per our first WYD gathering, pilgrims should at least be doing the following as a way of preparing for this spiritual journey:

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION

1) Spend twenty minutes in personal prayer each day.

2) Adopt some devotional practice such as the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, or the Liturgy of the Hours.  This devotion can be included as part of one's daily personal prayer.  A how-to guide to some of these devotions can be found to the right of this post.

3) Aside from Sunday Mass, attend at least one other Mass during the course of the week.

4) Go to confession at least once each month (A thorough guide to this sacrament can be found under the links section to the right of this post). 

Know that the pilgrimage leaders are praying for the success of the pilgrimage, and that each pilgrim will be richly blessed by God as a result of this journey.

* Pilgrims desiring to be absent from one the Diocesan WYD Gatherings need to contact Fr. Brian Christensen well in advance of the event requesting his permission to be absent.  Other questions should be directed to Susan Safford.