World Youth Day
Conceived by Pope John Paul II in 1984, World Youth Day celebrates the opportunity for young people from around the world to deepen and renew faith, broaden perspectives and nurture the human spirit. The experience of traveling together to places of great historical and religious significance is deeply transformative for Catholic youth and leadership. Participants return home with a new sense of their place in a historical tradition, a renewed commitment to their faith and local congregation, stronger bonds with fellow sojourners, and a greater understanding of other cultures.
WYD 2008 - Sydney, Australia
Pope Benedict XVI has extended his invitation for youth to gather in Sydney in prayer for peace and reconciliation and to dedicate their energies to the construction of a more just and more fraternal society.
Illume delights in the idea that at our best, we are all citizens of the world. There are few experiences more moving than exploring other cultures, meeting people of diverse backgrounds and becoming citizens of the world - leading and inspiring respectful and compassionate ways of life. We invite you to join this global community and experience the difference that travel to WYD 2008 can make in transforming perspectives.
Inspiring a Global Community
WYD gatherings make it possible for young people from different lands and cultures to meet together, share diverse perspectives, nurture faith in each other, and gain an appreciation for challenges - both similar and unique - to develop a faith that is authentic, lively and respectful.
As borders and boundaries are crossed to share in the lives of one another, participants engage in experience that foster global community, cultural respect, stewardship of world heritage, and compassionate living. World Youth Day inspires worldly citizenship.
What we bring to the table
The success of a travel experience is defined by the difference between novice and expert travel planning and touring. Illume has partnered with parishes, schools, universities and dioceses from around the USA and the world for all WYD events. With 30 years of experience and expertise, illume offers professional travel and event management programming for mission-driven organizations. Our local teams and affiliates assure your travel experience is positive, safe and memorable.
Journey to places where the spirit moves you
Illume offers four thematic journeys to preserve the values and the vision of Catholic faith-heritage for World Youth Day 2008. We invite leaders of religious and educational institutions to join illume in fostering an appreciation for our shared heritage and a sense of stewardship for preserving and passing on that heritage for future generations.
Our Roman Roots: Early Christian Rome and WYD Sydney
We travel to Sydney as Roman Catholics, as people who owe our heritage to the witness of countless generations before us who forged their faith in the ancient city of Rome. Our program includes visit to early Christian sites in Rome, an excursion to Assisi and visits to the Vatican - culminating with participation in the events in Sydney of WYD 2008.
Our Journey with Jesus: Jerusalem and WYD Sydney
We travel to Sydney as disciples of Jesus who revealed God's love and compassion through his ministry in Israel. Our program traces Jesus' final days in Jerusalem by visiting the Mt. of Olives, the Upper Room, the Way of the Cross, the Temple Mount and Western Wall, and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, and culminates with participation in the events in Sydney of WYD 2008.
Spiritual Traditions in Dialogue: Aboriginal and Catholic Australia
Some of the oldest human communities exist in Australia and preserve ancient spiritual traditions, beliefs and practices. Our program explores the cultural heritage of the Aboriginal tribes of Australia. The cross-cultural experiences in our program underscore the commonalities and differences between our faith traditions and cultivate a greater understanding as members of a pluralistic and interrelated global community. The program culminates with participation in the events in Sydney of WYD 2008.
The Power of the Holy Spirit - WYD Sydney 2008
Our program includes participation in the events of WYD 2008 and visit to sites in and around Sydney. This promises to be a very powerful opportunity to learn more about the Catholic faith, to reflect on the challenges of living out that faith in the contemporary world, to develop a sense of membership in a global church, and to begin a life-long journey of worldly citizenship.
Learn more. Visit www.travelillume.com or contact us.
Discover the world illumed!