10 months to go” “

There’s less than a year to go before the next World Youth Day in Cologne, and the organizers are working flat out. Enrolment in the event by Internet has begun – inaugurated by the Pope in person at Loreto on 4 September. And various projects are supporting participation in the event: they even include a lottery. The archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, recently spoke of the approaching WYD on the occasion of the world day of social communications. COMPETING IN RECONCILIATION. An art competition on the theme of “Reconciliation” was recently held by the WYD Office in Cologne, in collaboration with the office for youth ministry (afj) in Düsseldorf and the German association of catechists (Dkv) in Munich. It involved schools and groups of youngsters aged from 14 to 28 throughout Germany. 64 works of art were entered and the ten best – subdivided into the categories of group works and individual works or works by pairs – will be awarded prizes at a ceremony in Cologne on 24 November. The first prize has been awarded to a girl in Bonn, who will participate gratis in the WYD. The art works of the young will be displayed in the “Centre of Reconciliation” at the next WYD, a venue intended to permit the participants to dialogue on such themes as responsibility, failure, forgiveness and reconciliation. “Many of the works entered show that reconciliation is a question that concerns each one of us and that reconciliation may be a source of joy”, said Father MANFRED KÖLLIG, member of the jury and head of the liturgical office for the WYD “WINNING WITH THE WYD”. That’s the slogan of the lottery being held throughout the country by the organizers of the event in Cologne. The WYD “scratch cards”, costing 2 euros each, have been available since the beginning of September, and will remain on sale till 31 May 2005, at parish offices of Catholic communities and other church organizations and associations in Germany. The proceeds will help to fund the “Days of meeting” in German dioceses and the WYD itself. The cash prizes range from 2 to 20,000 Euros; other prizes include a car, cell phones and journeys to Rome. But there are also advantages for the parishes taking part in the initiative: the parishes that sell most tickets will be given an invitation for five persons to attend the WYD gratis, and the most “active” parish will win a trip to Rome for ten persons. FROM LORETO TO COLOGNE. Since 4 September it has been possible to enrol in the WYD via Internet: and the first pilgrim to register on the official site of the WYD – www.wjt2005.de – was JOHN PAUL II in person. Visiting Loreto, the Pope urged the young to participate in the forthcoming event in Germany; his invitation was seconded by Father ULRICH HENNES, WYD secretary in Cologne who addressed the young people present: “You are, so to say, the professionals, the world champions of WYD!” Up till 1st June next year, youth aged from 16 to 30 can enrol via Internet; registration gives each participant the right to a “pilgrim’s pack”, which includes various concessions and vouchers, including meal tickets, accommodation vouchers, insurance and a free subscription to public transport. Internet enrolment was mainly conceived for organized groups, through their own national episcopal conference, but individuals can also register via Internet or if this is not possible through their home diocese. WYD AND THE MEDIA. During his traditional meeting with journalists on the occasion of world day for social communications, on 9 September, Cardinal JOACHIM MEISNER, archbishop of Cologne, spoke of the Pope and the next WYD. “The Pope and the Church can make news and reach a big audience. The Church has something to say in the media and especially so with this Pope”, he declared. On the diffusion of information about WYD, Meisner said he was “very grateful to the media for the fact that for many months they had not only reported on the logistical aspects of WYD but had also placed strong emphasis on the contents of the event”. “We and the media both have a great responsibility for WYD”, he added: “Public opinion, which you form, is of decisive importance for this great festival of the faith”. Meisner also stressed that the WYD is not only a “great opportunity for the Church to renew the faith” but also “an occasion” for the media to enter into the “heart of the event”. The archbishop of Cologne attributes a “role of great responsibility” to the means of information that will report on the event in 2005, “because the success of WYD depends essentially on it: not as a flash in the pan but as an enduring world event”.