The star and the cross” “

Now that the search for a new area for the vigil and concluding celebration of WYD 2005 has been happily concluded – it has been found at Frechen, just 15 km from Cologne -, the work of the German organizers tirelessly continues, helped by numerous spontaneous initiatives in many parts of the world. In the meantime, appeals are being made in many German dioceses for volunteers and for the offer of accommodation for the young visitors to Cologne in 2005. The WYD Cross is participating in the solidarity action “72 hours without compromises”(“72 Stunden ohne Kompromisse”). Here is a brief review of the various projects. InformaTION TO THE PARISHES. On the website of WYD (www.wjt2005.de) parishes can now order a pamphlet on the 20th World Youth Day in Cologne. The brochure, illustrated with photos and packed with information, will be distributed together with a letter of parish priests during Advent and Christmas. It is dedicated in particular to the “Days of meeting in German dioceses”, to be held throughout Germany from 11 to 15 August 2005. Information on how to enrol, on the search for volunteers and on the offer of accommodation is also contained in the brochure. WYD ON THE RADIO. From 15 October onwards, the Catholic radio station of Cologne, Domradio, will broadcast a weekly programme dedicated to WYD every Friday from 14.00 to 16.00. With the slogan “Follow the star”, the programme will make a 44-week pilgrimage towards the great event in Cologne. Contributions, interviews and features on WYD can be read or re-listened to on the website of the radio station (www.domradio-weltjugendtag.de). A WYD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. With the project Germanwatch “atmosfair” (www.atmosfair.com), realized by the federal Ministry for the Environment, participants in WYD who arrive by air may help reduce the environmental impact of the flight to Cologne: passengers may pay a surplus for the pollution caused, which will be invested in projects for the development of clean energy or for energy saving. Casting FOR THE Via Crucis. The casting for a joint project of the WYD Office and the Cologne artists Gregor Leschig (director) and Andrea Hoßfeld (playwright) ended on 17 October. Young people between the ages of 16 and 30 have been selected from the city’s schools for performance of the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross. They will also be asked to contribute creatively to the realization of the project with moment of improvisation, since, explains the director, “in this way the Passion of Christ will be transmitted to the world through the images of the young”. The images of the performance will also be transmitted with a musical background in some 400 German parishes during the Via Crucis on 19 August 2005. RosariES FROM THE HOLY LAND, BROCHURES FROM CHINA. During WYD in Cologne, Rosaries imported from the Holy Land will be distributed. The idea is that of Father Donald Moore of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem, which has financed the production of the rosaries both from its own resources and with donations. So far 185,000 have been produced, but Father Moore aims to continue the project. Another contribution to the organization of WYD comes from China: the brochure with the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about WYD and the enrolment form for volunteers have in fact been translated into Chinese by a Chinese seminarian. THE CROSS, SIGN OF SOLIDARITY. The Cross of the young is continuing its pilgrimage through Germany: from 3 to 14 October it passed through the archdiocese of Freiburg and visited the sites of the initiatives “72 hours without compromises”, an action of solidarity that is annually promoted in the Länder of southwest Germany, and that this year involved 30,000 children and adolescents in 1,242 solidarity projects. Hundreds of young people welcomed the arrival of the Cross in the cathedral of Freiburg; following the procession to the basilica, it was then handed over to the representatives of the Schönstatt movement. During the celebration, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg recalled that the Cross, “silent messenger of the truth that makes us free, invites us to celebrate the Christian faith not only outwardly, but inwardly: it shows that it has the power to strengthen, relieve and console us”. The next leg in the pilgrimage: the archdiocese of Paderborn, from 17 to 24 October. Those who wish to do so can spend a very special New Year’s Day: a course of spiritual exercises with the presence of the WYD Cross will be held at Waldbreitbach from 30 December to 2 January.