INFO WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008

Plans for the Handover of the WYD Cross & Icon, Rome Palm Sunday 2009

The Archdiocese of Sydney planning is underway for the Handover of the WYD Cross and Icon which will take place in Rome on Palm Sunday, 5 April 2009.

As was the case when Australia received the Cross and Icon from Cologne in 2006, a delegation comprising representatives of the Australian dioceses and others involved in WYD08 will be present in Rome for the Handover ceremony to Madrid on Palm Sunday.

Broadcast arrangements – Xt3 (Christ in the Third Millennium)

The Archdiocese of Sydney is currently considering options to ensure the live signal of the Handover is relayed from Rome via webcasting through Xt3, the Catholic online social network.

Webcasting through Xt3 will allow parishes worldwide to receive pictures and sound via a computer with internet connection to Xt3 in their various parish halls which could then be projected onto a large screen.

During the event itself, some of the Australian delegates will report on the activities as well as hearing from young seminarians from Rome who were in Sydney for WYD08 and were part of the broadcast team.

Xt3 will shortly release plans for international coverage, with the click of a mouse, of the official handover in Rome of the Cross and Icon from Australia to Madrid . This will follow the Papal Palm Sunday Mass.

Plans for Palm Sunday in local parishes

While we know each individual parish worldwide will be responsible for creating their own plans around the Rome Handover of the Cross and Icon and Palm Sunday, it is hoped that a highlight of this time will be the live vision of the Rome Handover event.

As one of the key steps towards parishes continuing the WYD08 legacy, the live vision of the Rome Handover will provide a great opportunity for young people to reflect on the journey of WYD and to look and plan for the future of the Church in their local setting.

As these plans are finalised, further details will be provided to any diocese interested in presenting the WYD Cross and Icon handover live from their parishes.

Xt3

Xt3 (Christ in the Third Millennium), developed as a WYD08 initiative by WYD 2008 with its UK-based partner Xt3.com, was created in response to young people’s growing preference to communicate through a safe online environment.

His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, sees Xt3 as a major legacy of WYD08 and is a great supporter who also has his own profile page on the network.

The site has grown remarkably with more than 40,000 profiles, reaching nearly 200 countries and is already in the top ten Catholic social network sites in the world.

Xt3 was also recently given the “thumbs up” by the Vatican with the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, offering the Vatican’s vast library of media material – written, audio and visual – for use on the Xt3 site.

The Vatican is also impressed with a number of innovative and exciting additions planned for Xt3 and which will be launched in the near future. These include:

· dedicated home pages for every diocese in the world to maintain local content;

· an interactive religious education program working with Catholic education in Australia ;

· support for Youth Ministry especially at a parish level;

· engaging content with special interviews and interactive dialogue and on-going connection with the WYD spirit and promotion of WYD in Madrid .

www.Xt3.com - more than a social network. So good even the Pope uses it!

43^rd World Day of Social Communications

Pope Benedict XVI released a message in preparation for the 43^rd World Day of Social Communications in Rome today, Friday 23 January (12 noon Rome time) with this year’s theme being “New Technologies, New Relationships, Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship”.

The Vatican is very keen to step up efforts to use and embrace new technologies as a way to effectively communicate with not just Catholics, but all people worldwide, and especially young people - technologies such as the use of Xt3 and social networks and SMS messaging that were successfully adopted during WYD08.

To give practical support to this year’s theme, the Vatican also released details of its own channel on YouTube which will have papal texts and speeches as well as audio and video. In presenting this information to the international press, Xt3 was, on a number of occasions, used as an example of what can be done by and for young people in helping to provide answers, resource material, interviews and active feedback.

Visit the new video channel at www.youtube.com/vatican and read the Papal Message regarding the upcoming World Day of Social Communications.

Pontifical Council for the Laity Conference for WYD Organisers

An International Preparatory Meeting for WYD organisers will be held by the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) in Rome on Friday, 3 April and Saturday, 4 April 2009.

The PCL have asked that a WYD08 report be delivered by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, WYD08 Coordinator and Danny Casey, WYD08 Chief Operating Officer on Friday, 3 April 2009.

World Youth Day Madrid 2011

In working closely with the organisers of World Youth Day Madrid, already discussions are underway with Xt3 to supply content (including translations), audio and visual material in the build up to and during the event in 2011.

As planning is completed we will be able to provide you with more information over the ensuing months.

Journey of the WYD Cross & Icon

The Vatican is currently finalising plans regarding the WYD Cross & Icon journey in 2009, including the 25th anniversary on 22 April of the occasion when Pope John Paul II first entrusted the Cross to the youth of the world.

The Cross and Icon are presently residing in Rome .

Since WYD08, the Cross has travelled to Lourdes in France to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to celebrate the 150 years since the apparitions of Our Lady.

More information regarding the Cross and Icon’s travel itinerary will be available in the coming weeks.

We would like to keep you updated on the abovementioned topics in this newsletter and other Archdiocese of Sydney and Catholic Church activities, issues and initiatives from time to time.

For more information please contact us at CathComm@sydney.catholic.org.au

WYD 2008, the organiser of WYD08, will soon be wound up now that the WYD08 events of July 2008 are concluded. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney would like to remain in contact with you to provide you with information regarding Catholic Church-related activities, issues and initiatives. If you do not wish to be contacted, please email us at unsubscribe@ado.syd.catholic.org.au