South West young people all set for World Youth Day 2008

Press Release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth

South West young people all set for World Youth Day 2008

Young adults across Plymouth Diocese are preparing to travel to Sydney for the 2008 World Youth Day (WYD) events taking place from Tuesday, 15 July to Sunday, 20 July. For two of them, preparations have also involved special training as Communication Officers.

Twenty-four pilgrims from the diocese - together with another 60 from the neighbouring dioceses of Clifton and Portsmouth – have been busy fundraising for their journey in response to Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to meet with him in Australia. Over 2,000 young people, aged 16 to 35, from England and Wales will be attending the WYD events. Most of them will be taking part in voluntary community projects in Australia the week before the Pope's arrival. The pilgrimage culminates in a Vigil and Mass celebrated by the Pope.

The Plymouth and neighbouring dioceses' pilgrims fly to Melbourne on 8 July 2008. They will stay with host families until 14 July when they travel to Sydney to be with thousands of other young Catholics from around the world. The Bishop of Plymouth Diocese, the Right Reverend Christopher Budd, will be joining the young people of the diocese in Sydney.

In the run-up to WYD, 32 young people going out there have been trained in a variety of different forms of media as 'WYD Communication Officers' and commissioned to serve the local and universal Church in this key media role. They will engage with the media in the lead up to, during and beyond World Youth Day. Many will work in teams to gather and disseminate news in written, video and audio format, from their days in Australia and the key moments in Sydney. They will also respond to requests from the many foreign and domestic journalists who are expected to attend what is being billed as 'the biggest youth event in the world'.

The World Youth Day Communication Officers representing Plymouth Diocese are Poppy MacDonald and Maria Whelan. Speaking after the training, Poppy MacDonald said: "It was a really fascinating insight into the media and world of communications", and Maria added: "It will be an amazing opportunity to share my faith with so many people from around the world."

Communication is at the heart of the Church's mission and this year's World Youth Day message proclaims that: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses'. The WYD Communication Officers are equipped to share their faith, their passion and their commitment to the Catholic Church to thousands of others.

ENDS

For more information, interviews and photographs from the training weekend, please contact:

Poppy MacDonald on 07951 255063 or at mlrmacdonald@hotmail.com

Maria Whelan on 01769 540212 or at mwheelan@hotmail.com

Notes to Editors

• UK Media Fact Sheet for WYD 2008 – attached
• WYD 2008 website - http://www.wyd2008.org/
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth covers the counties of Cornwall, Devon and most of Dorset.

Michael Fay
Communications Officer
Catholic Diocese of Plymouth
Tel/Fax: 01803 845023
Mobile: 07779 129358
E-mail: michael.fay@btinternet.com