Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Diocese preparing for World Youth Day

EDMONTON — Andrew Papenbrock is preparing for an event that will physically last 10 days, but spiritually be a lifetime venture.

The new archdiocesan assistant World Youth Day coordinator is busy making the calls and rounding up support for WYD 2002 in Toronto and making plans for WYD activities at the local level.

World Youth Day 2002 is scheduled for July 18-28. But Papenbrock hopes to extend the spirit of the event way beyond those 10 lazy days of summer.

"The point is ensuring that it has a lasting effect," said Papenbrock, who was hired to help Roger Lamoreux, the archdiocesan youth coordinator, plan local activities for WYD.

The 41-year-old father of three and long time parishioner of St. Alphonsus Church was in the construction business before he came on board with WYD. He attended the Paris WYD in 1997 and helped organize the group from St. Alphonsus which went to Rome in August 2000.

It was in Paris that he first witnessed the affects of such a youth gathering.

"It's spiritual and cultural," Papenbrock said. "You saw the young people everywhere you went, singing and dancing. Just by being there you couldn't escape it . . . it caught me."

WYD has several components. The first will be the acceptance of the 12-foot Pilgrim Cross that has been part of the WYD event since its inception 15 years ago.

On Palm Sunday, the cross will be given to youth delegates from Canada at a ceremony in Rome. The cross will come to Canada and travel across the country. It is expected to be in the Edmonton Archdiocese in late August or early September.

During its visit to Edmonton, the cross may go to various churches and pilgrimage sites including Lac Ste. Anne and Skaro. But the cross is to also be present in unconventional places, such as the Strathcona Market or storefronts at West Edmonton Mall.

"The cross has been in 150 different countries," Papenbrock said. "It's been part of World Youth Day since the beginning.

"It's a way for the young people to share God's love with others."

Preceding WYD events in Toronto, dioceses throughout the country will host pilgrims as part of Days in the Diocese. Some possible activities for the up to 2,000 pilgrims coming to Edmonton are participation in summer festivals, sporting events, a trip to Jasper and outings to Our Lady of Victory Camp and Camp Encounter.

Papenbrock's goal is to get the archdiocese as pumped up about the event as he is. He wants to ignite excitement for WYD in parishes and with Church groups such as the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women's League.

"I've seen how (past WYD) has affected these young people," Papenbrock said. "It's been a true pilgrimage for them."

He added he's seen the spiritual growth of the youth not only in his own parish, but also in others. They have become more active in parish and community activities.

Two young adults who attended WYD 2000, Ernesto Rizzi, 23, and Natalie Tuchscherer, 25, will sit on the archdiocesan WYD advisory committee.

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