Let’s hurry up … and w-a-i-t!

We are at the final mass site at Campus Misericordiae. We arrived in three groups but all walked at least 5 miles In the heat and crowds. All are in good spirits even though the meal packages were only received by half our group. We are all sharing and hear more food trucks will come so we can get our alloted amount.

Please pray for us as we attend the evening vigil with Pope Francis, sleep out under the stars and attend the final mass tomorrow.

For those watching at home we are in section A 12- good seats! You will likely not hear much news for the next 24 hours. We need our phone batteries to help communicate safely on the 8 mile journey back to our housing tomorrow. Pray for Us!

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A full day at WYD!

The pilgrims had another full day at WYD! The speaker today was Cardinal Dolan who always has an inspirational message for the Youth. Another guest speaker told her story as a Catholic Iranian who escaped from persecution but lost her family.

Our pilgrims then split into small groups to finish site seeing in Krakow. Many beautiful churches were visited including Wawel Cathedral, St Mary Basilica, the Church of the Redeemer and more. Some groups made it to Schindler’s museum, a few will go tomorrow prior to walking to the final vigil and closing Mass site.

Pictures were not allowed at Wawal, St Stanislaus’s tomb was beautiful. The evening ended with stations of the cross. The subway and busses were shut down for several hours and many of our groups of pilgrims had to walk a distance back to our housing.

A good but busy day, tomorrow will be an 8 mile walk to the final Mass site.

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WYD Itinerary

Wondering about the itinerary for the WYD pilgrims?  Here’s a brief synopsis:

  • Friday: 22 July 2016
    • 3 hour layover in Frankfort, Germany airport – and then travelling on to Prague
  • Saturday: 23 July 2016
    • All day in Prague
  • Sunday: 24 July 2016
    • Depart Prague for Budapest
    • Bus tour of Budapest – and an overnight in the city.
  • Monday, 25 July 2016
    • Depart Budapest for Krakow, Poland – visiting sites along the way.
  • Tuesday – Sunday: 26-31 July 2016
    • World Youth Day events and activities
  • Monday, 1 August 2016
    • Visit to Auschwitz and the salt mine in Wieliczka
  • Tuesday, 2 August 2016
    • Return to the USA – departing Krakow Airport, transferring in Frankfort and then returning stateside.

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 begins

The Saint Patrick pilgrims are getting ready to head to World Youth Day 2016!
Sunday July 17 at the 8:30 a.m. mass, Father Trask will bless the pilgrims.

The pilgrims will be leaving from Detroit on Thursday July 21 and returning Tuesday August 2.

A little about our travels: The group will be traveling prior to WYD. The pilgrims will visit Prague, Budapest, Czestochowa and Krakow. Many religious sites will be visited in the pre tour including Svata Hora (Holy Mountain, a Basilica Minor designated by Pope Pius X) St Nicholas Church, Our Lady Victorious Church- Infant Jesus of Prague, and Jasna Gora, -The Black Madonna. In Poland the group will visit Saint John Paul II home town, Wadowice, the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, home of Saint Faustina, the Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz.

The events of World Youth Day include an opening mass, daily Catechesis, Live Stations of the Cross, an overnight Vigil and Closing Mass with Pope Francis. An expected 2.5 million pilgrims are anticipated. We are very excited about our travels and growth in our Catholic Faith and know you will PRAY FOR US, as we make this pilgrimage.  We hope you will follow our travels here and on the St Patrick Church Facebook page.

A little about our group: The group is traveling with pilgrims from St Peter in Huron and St Paul in Norwalk. In total, there are 66 pilgrims.