Our Week in Rio

Get Your Visas!!

WYD 2013 Anthem in English

Important WYD Updates

1) We have news about visas. The Visa Fee will be waived, and we will not have to make the formal visa application that is required of most tourists to the country. There will, however, be a form that we will need to submit to their consulate. This form has not yet been published. We will distribute it as soon as we have access to it.

2) We are officially registered for Days in the Diocese in Sao Paulo. This year they are calling this part of the pilgrimage "missionary days."

3) Don't forget about the Diocesan WYD gathering on December 27. We will be at Sacred Heart Church in Philip.

4) The Next payment ($549) is due January 15.

5) The location of the Pilgrimage Mass with the Holy Father has been selected. This will be in the western zone of the city at a location called Guaratiba. Pilgrims will make their way to this location on foot from three landing points. Each route will require a walk of about 8 miles. Their will be service islands placed in locations along the way. Departure from the area after the Papal Mass will feature a special shuttle service.

Visas

From Susan Safford:

+++++

Dear WYD pilgrims,

Peace in Christ! Thanks for staying on top of everything for WYD! There have been some questions regarding Visas.  We are still investigating that question, so please just wait to hear from either myself or Fr. Brian Christensen regarding what to do about visas.  If you want the "official" word regarding any WYD information for our group, contact one of the two of us.

For now, you don't need to do anything about Visas.  My office will let everyone know what to do and when, so don't worry about it until we tell you.  Keep watching your email and the facebook page, and we'll keep you posted there on all the information you need.

In the meantime, though, we have begun to register individual pilgrims for WYD, but we can't register you until we have a photocopy of your passport in hand, as well as any information that you are missing from your application.  So, please turn these items in ASAP.

Again, feel free to contact me at any time for information.

Thanks everyone! And God bless your preparations for this amazing pilgrimage!

Official WYD Hymn Released

Below is the official WYD Hymn in its original Portuguese.

Loosely translated (by Google) the song says:

I'm always marked
with the sign of the Redeemer,
that on the mountain, Corcovado,
embraces the world with His love.

(Chorus)

Christ invites us:
"Come, my friends!"
Christ sends us:
"Be missionaries!"

Youth spring:
hope of dawn;
who hears this call
welcomes the gift of believing!
We wish it were the earth,
the whole world was like that!
No to war outside the hatred,
Only the good and peace to have no end.

From west to east,
Our house has no door,
our land has no fence,
or limits our love!
Scattered throughout the world,
retain the same ardor.
It's Your grace that sustains us
keeps us faithful unto Thee, O Lord!

Given your call:
"Go and make, among nations,
a new people, in unity,
their hearts to me! "
Advertise Your Gospel
to everyone is to transform
the old man in new man
in the new world that is coming.

Official World Youth Day Song

One of the hallmark traditions of WYD is the release of the official World Youth Day Song.  It was recently announced that the song for this pilgrimage is to be revealed on September 14.





To whet your appetite, here are a few samples of songs from the past.

WYD Rome:




WYD Denver: