November 10, 2006

Dear Young Friends in Christ,

It is with great joy that I invite you, the youth and young adults of our diocese, to come with me on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2008. This world encounter of young people with Christ will take place in Sydney, Australia in July 2008. It will also include some time for prayer and reflection in Brisbane.

Initiated by Pope John Paul II 1986 in Rome, and now continued by Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day provides young people an occasion to celebrate and to explore in greater depth their faith in Christ. It encourages all participants to become sentinels of the dawn and apostles of the New Evangelization. It offers a vivid experience of faith-full communion with other youth and with our Holy Father.

Throughout 2007, to prepare for the pilgrimage the following year, we will be meditating on the following words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John:

"Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (13:34).

It is Pope Benedict’s hope that this meditation will help us to discover more about the Holy Spirit, who infuses divine charity within us and makes us aware of the material and spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters.

As we travel, then as pilgrims to Sydney in 2008, we will be prepared to explore in greater depth what Jesus meant when he said:

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)

These words of our Savior will provide the theme of World Youth Day 2008.

As you prepare in spirit for our pilgrimage to Sydney, take to heart the recent words of Pope Benedict XVI to the youth of the world preparing for World Youth Day 2008:

From this moment onwards, my dear young friends, in a climate of constant listening to the word of God, call on the Holy Spirit, Spirit of fortitude and witness, that you may be able to proclaim the Gospel without fear even to the ends of the earth. Our Lady was present in the cenacle with the Apostles as they waited for Pentecost. May she be your mother and guide. May she teach you to receive the word of God, to treasure it and to ponder on it in your heart (cf Lk 2:19) as she did throughout her life. May she encourage you to declare your "yes" to the Lord as you live "the obedience of faith". May she help you to remain strong in the faith, constant in hope, persevering in charity, always attentive to the Word of God. I am together with you in prayer, and I bless each one of you with all my heart.

Grace and peace in Christ,

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of Phoenix