THE POPE OF YOUTH

Pope John Paul IIMay 18, 1920–April 2, 2005

• “JP Two, We love you”

• “JP Too, he Loves YOU!”

Overview of the Workshop

• Pope John Paul II’s Message to Youth

World Youth Day History

• Applications Using Renewing the Vision

“Dear young people, the Church needs genuine witnesses for the new

evangelisation: men and women who are capable of communicating this experience to others. The Church

needs saints. All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew

humanity.” JP II Message for Cologne

WORLD YOUTH DAYS

“The Days in fact were born, also in response to an initiative of young people themselves, of a desire to offer them a significant ‘break’ on the on-going pilgrimage of faith, which is indeed nurtured by meetings with young people of other nations and sharing respective experiences.”

“The principle objective of the Days is to make the person of Jesus the centre of the faith and life of every young person so that he may be their constant point of reference and also the inspiration of every initiative and commitment for education of the new generations.”

World Youth Days

• 1984—International Youth Gathering Rome

• 1986—Palm Sunday Established World Youth Day

“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.”

1 Pt. 3:15

World Youth Day Themes

•1987 Buenos Aires—“We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love toward ourselves.” —1 Jn. 4:16

•1988—“Do whatever He tells you.” — Jn. 2:5

•1989—Santiago de Compostele, Spain—“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” — Jn. 14:6

•1990—“I am the Vine, you are the branches.” Jn. 15:5

WYD THEMES

• 1991—Czestochowa, Poland—“You have received a spirit of sonship.” — Rom. 8:15

• 1992—“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel”—Mk. 16:15

• 1993—“I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.”—Jn. 10:10

• 1994 and 1995—“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”—Jn. 20:21—January, 1995—Manilla, Phillipines

• 1996—“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”—Rom. 1:11-12

• 1997—Paris—“Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see.”—Jn.1:38-39

• 1998—“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.”—Jn. 14: 26

• 1999—“The Father loves you.”—Jn. 16:27

• 2000—Rome—“The Word became flesh and dwelt among you.”—Jn 1:14

• 2001—“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”—Lk. 9:23

• 2002—Toronto—“You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world.”—Mt. 5:13-14

• 2003—“Behold your Mother.”—Jn. 19:27

• 2004—“We wish to see Jesus.” —Jn 12:21

• 2005—Cologne—“We have come to worship Him.”—Mt. 2:2

Renewing the Vision

• Goal 1: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.

“Freedom is the ability to live responsibly the truth of our relationship with God and with one another.”

“Each of you has a special mission in life, and you are each called to be a disciple of Christ.”

HOW?

• Show them the person of Christ . . . in Scripture in Prayer in Every day life: yours, theirs,

others

• In Scripture Themes of WYD

www.nfcym.org

World Youth Day Reflections Edited by Barbara Murray, St. Mary’s Press

• In Prayer Each program, each class should have

prayer as an essential element

Use different forms: liturgy of the hours, lectio divina, guided meditation, the Rosary using JP II’s Luminous Mysteries

Atmosphere—Prayer Space/Change

• In Everyday life: yours, theirs, others

Faith sharing—a guided question to be shared with others

StoriesWitness Talks

• Goal 2: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.

“Be witnesses to the Gospel! As active and responsible members of the Church, be disciples and witnesses of Jesus Christ who reveals the Father.”

HOW?

• Through service in the parish in the community: local and global

• Through reflection on serviceScripture passage

Message: what happened, what do you think, how are you feeling?

Think, reflect What further action am I called to? Prayer

• Goal 3: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

“This is the time of your ‘training,’ of your physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development. . . . Your training will never be finished. Christians are always in training.”

HOW?• Comprehensive Programming Activities that provide knowledge of the faithReligious education/faith formationActivities that allow them to live out their faithService, community gatherings, vocation talksActivities that shows the church cares for themPastoral guidance, family support, acknowledging

accomplishments, knowing their names

General Ideas

• Themes of WYDPrayerDeeper Reflection

• Pope John Paul II’s AddressesPodcastsLesson plansWords/phrases:

What do they mean to you? How do you/have you seen them lived out?

• Witness Talks from young adults who heard JP II in person

• My Dear Young Friends: Pope John Paul II Speaks to Teens on Life, Love, and Courage

52 weekly reflections Scripture Message Think about that Take action Say a prayer Did you know?

“This is what is needed: a Church for young people, which will know how to

speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it

with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist;

a Church which will know how to invite and to welcome the person who seeks a purpose for which to commit his whole

existence;

a Church which is not afraid to require much, after having given much;

which does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and

authentic adventure, such as the following of the Gospel.”

1995 World Day of Prayer for Vocations