Countdown” “

Less than 180 days remain before the great youth meeting in Cologne. A clock with the time in reverse, marking the countdown to August, has appeared in the city on the Rhine. “The clock must encourage us to use as effectively as possible the few months that still remain before World Youth Day”, said Heiner Koch , general secretary of WYD, who explained that the clock should “especially inspire the inhabitants of Cologne to pay attention to WYD”. The forthcoming meeting of the Pope with the young was a central focus of the traditional Carnival in Cologne, which this year chose a slogan that echoes WYD: “Cologne and children from all over the world”. Eighty staff of the WYD organizing office also took part in the fancy-dress parade, and distributed pastries in the streets. In the meantime, the WYD Cross is continuing its journey through Germany by traversing the diocese of Aachen, where it remained from 8 to 20 February. “The Cross is the symbol of our faith. It represents the fundamental coordinates of the faith that Christians today experiment on their body with the sign of the Cross in ash and that they see in the WYD Cross”, declared Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff in a celebration to mark the beginning of Lent in Aachen Cathedral in the presence of the WYD Cross. A WYD CROSS FOR EVERYONE. Recently interviewed by the Catholic press agency KNA, Heiner Koch stressed that the Catholic event in Cologne intends also to target young people outside the Church and referred to the invitation made by the Pope to non-Catholic youth to participate in it. “We hope that the spark of the Holy Spirit may also reach them”, declared Koch, who also pointed out the importance of the “contact with our sister Churches”; this will find expression in four great ecumenical celebrations planned during the event. Koch referred to the surprise expressed by many non-believers about the great interest shown by the young in the forthcoming meeting with the Pope: “If curiosity is aroused in this way, the WYD will have fulfilled its goals right from the start”, he declared. WYD ALSO FOR THE DISABLED. A video in the language of signs for the deaf and dumb is the latest contribution of WYD to encourage the presence of young people with various disabilities. The official website of WYD (www.wjt2005) is now offering the welcoming video in the language of signs. It presents important facts and figures about WYD, both in the German language of signs and in the international language, in order to give a chance also to non-Germans to understand its content. “In this way we wish to demonstrate that we take seriously the language of gestures as the mother tongue of many young people who lack hearing”, declared Simone Bell-D’Avis, WYD delegate for the disabled, who added: “one of the objectives of WYD is to permit as many disabled youngsters as possible to participate”. SHOE-SHINING FOR WYD. Of the various fund-raising projects promoted in the German dioceses to permit the participation of young people from poor countries, the one recently launched in Erfurt Cathedral is certainly offbeat. Beginning on 19 February, a group of from 11 to 16 youngsters are offering to polish the shoes of visitors to the Cathedral in exchange for a donation. The proceeds will be used to fund the participation in WYD of youngsters from Eastern Europe, Brazil and Uganda. “Approximately 1 million young people will participate in the final Mass with the Pope in Cologne: before then, up to 4,000 youth from three continents will be our guests in Thuringia”, said Stephanie Czenotta, WYD representative for the diocese of Erfurt. “The stay in Thuringia will be free for our guests, but not all can afford to pay for the travel and for the costs of the meeting in Cologne. That’s why we want to help to make sure that no one will be forced to stay at home”, due to lack of money. Czernotta explained that the diocese of Erfurt has already allocated 50,000 Euros for the participation in WYD of young people without means. “Each additional Euro helps to increase the number of participants”, she added. “TracES OF THE CROSS”. That’s the name of the 40-day pilgrimage on foot, behind the WYD Cross and icon, from Dresden to Cologne. The pilgrimage will start on 8 July and end on 16 August with the entry of the Cross during the inaugural ceremony in Cologne. Booking has opened for young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who wish to accompany the Cross in this 750 km journey through Germany. Those wishing to participate can do so by registering on the official WYD website or on the website of the Pastoral Office of the German Bishops’ Conference (www.afj.de). The pilgrimage will use the traditional routes used by pilgrims in the past: the ecumenical path on the Via Regia, the Elisabeth-Pfad and the Path of St. James. Following tradition, pilgrims will be given accommodation along the route by many Catholic and Evangelic communities that have already declared their willingness to make available parish halls or community centres where the young can spend the night.