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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Four Hundred Young People From
Diocese of Rockville Centre Will Travel to Cologne For
World Youth Day 2005 |
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ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, August 3, 2005 -
Approximately 400 young people from the Diocese of
Rockville Centre will travel to Cologne, Germany and
join approximately 800,000 young people, 600 bishops and
one pope for World Youth Day 2005. Bishop William
Murphy, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, will
join the Long Island contingent.
In August 2004, Pope John Paul II invited young people
of the world to come to Germany and attend the 20th
World Youth Day from August 11-21, 2005. The motto of
this World Youth Day is taken from the St. Matthew’s
Gospel: “We have come to worship Him.” Pope Benedict XVI
will appear in person at this festival of faith.
“Pilgrims to Cologne are going to World Youth Day to see
the Holy Father, be confirmed in their faith, meet new
people and, most of all, worship the Lord,” said Bishop
Murphy.
The pre-week activities called “Days in the Diocese”
will be held throughout Germany from August 11-15. The
actual World Youth Day activities will take place from
Tuesday, August 16 through Sunday, August 21, when the
closing Mass with the Holy Father will be celebrated.
“World Youth Day is not a vacation, it’s much more
important. It is a spiritual journey, a time to
reconnect with Jesus, a time to share your faith, a time
to renew your commitment to Christ. It can be a
life-changing event,” said Michael McCarthy, director of
Youth Ministry, Diocese of Rockville Centre.
The program for World Youth Day is a diverse collection
of over 500 events that openly encourage participation.
Groups and artists from 41 nations will be represented
and will enrich the major festivals, small concerts,
social discussion forums and national meetings. Numerous
decentralized events will bring the spirit and culture
of World Youth Day to the three cities in the region
involved in this major event (Cologne, Bonn and
Dusseldorf).
“There is something very powerful about a gathering of
the world community,” said McCarthy, “You really get a
sense of the universality of the Church. World Youth Day
is a celebration of our faith and the practice of that
faith as we commit ourselves to justice throughout the
world.”
The diocesan contingent will bring to Cologne the
Diocesan World Youth Day Crucifix and a banner signed by
those who attended the August 2004 diocesan Youth Fest.
The crucifix was a gift to the diocese from Bishop
Christopher Cardone of the Solomon Islands. It was
blessed by Bishop Murphy during the concluding Mass for
Youth Fest and has been shared with parishes, schools
and youth groups across Long Island.
# # #
About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3.3 million). There are 134 parishes in
115 towns. Last year over 20,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 20,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,137
students in Catholic kindergarten, 23,825 in primary or
elementary school, 12,628 in secondary school and 3,300
in higher institutions. There are 76 Catholic elementary
and high schools and one Catholic college in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home-care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more
than 80,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and
disadvantaged on Long Island. For more information,
visit www.drvc.org
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
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