Diocesan pilgrimage plans for World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany well underway

by Sr. Margaret McHugh, director

Office of Youth Ministry

Upon seeing his star, the Magi from the east set off to see Jesus. Their pilgrimage turned out to have more twists and turns than they might have first imagined.

They approached King Herod in Jerusalem and stated their intentions: “We have come to worship him.” (Mt. 2:2) The Holy Father has chosen this as the theme of World Youth Day 2005. He writes in the Message to the Youth of the World for the 20th World Youth Day, “It is a theme that enables young people from every continent to follow in spirit the path taken by the Magi, whose relics, according to a pious tradition, are venerated in this...city (Cologne), and to meet, as they did, the Messiah of all nations.”

You are invited to join our Holy Father and thousand of youth from all over the world for this once-in-a-lifetime event! The Diocese of New Ulm Office of Youth Ministry is sponsoring a pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany from August 10 to 22, 2005.

Pilgrims should be at least 16 or 18 to participate. Chaperones should be 21 years old. Estimated cost is $2,500.

Whether or not you will personally make this pilgrimage to Cologne, Germany, you are invited to join us in a spirit of prayer and pilgrimage. The Message of the Holy Father to the youth of the world is accessible to all on the Internet. You can find it at: http://www.vatican.va. Click on The Holy See English, next WYD 2005 and Message English.

For further information on the pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Cologne,Germany contact diocesan Office of Youth Ministry; (507) 233-5327.