World Youth Day: 2008

Welcome to the Diocese of Westminster World Youth Day Blog. Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith.

From 8th-22nd July 2008, 170 pilgrims from the Diocese of Westminster will be taking part in World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. This blog, including photos and videos, will allow you to keep up to date with our pilgrims’ progress and activities as they travel from the Blue Mountains in the first week, into the centre of Sydney in the second, where they will join Catholics from all over the world, and Pope Benedict XVI.

The Diocese of Westminster Pilgrims


Listen to the Cardinal's interview with Vatican Radio about WYD

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What Young People can do to promote a Culture of Life

By Robert Colquhoun

With the sad news that television will screen pro-abortion adverts, here are 10 ways in which young people can help to end abortion and build a culture of life.

1/ Pray, discern and ask God to show you a way that you can help to end abortion in our country.

2/ Read 50 ways to help unborn and their mothers by Randy Alcorn. Accomplish as many as you can!

3/ Send your Priest/Pastor or Religious leader a copy of ways that Priests can end abortion (adapt if necessary). Also see bulletin inserts, preaching, liturgy and prayers.

4/ Examine your conscience regularly on whether you are doing enough to fight abortion.

5/ Participate in Prayer Vigils, volunteer for pro-life organizations and go onto the streets to proclaim life! Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, Good Counsel Network and SPUC are good places to start.

6/ Get well formed with Pro-life arguments. read Randy Alcorn’s Why pro-life, read quotes, magazine, endingabortion mp3s, ending abortion UK version as well as Priests for life. Know how to articulate your beliefs to give a voice for the voiceless.

7/ Encourage and promote the work of post abortion counselling and chastity education… give a talk or provide resources for your local school or parish.

8/ Make a film, tell a story, tell a personal testimony, tell all your friends positive and upbeats news that life begins at conception.

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel

9/ Conduct community outreach - take a positive and upbeat pro-life message to all areas of the city through grass roots activism. Equip, inform, educate and inspire others to believe in a nation where no more babies die and no more women cry.

“…go out on the streets and into public places.. woe to you if you do not succeed in defending life..” Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1993.

10/ Write to your local community leaders, MPs, councillors showing how strongly you feel on the issue and what can be done to build a culture of life.

Robert Colquhoun is the founder of 40 Days for Life London, an organisation that strives to support the dignity of womenhood and the protection of the unborn.  Their events have been supported in Westminster by several parishes and also Bishop Alan Hopes and Episcopal Vicar, Fr Paschal Ryan.  For more information on the activities they run for young people and young adults see our events section.

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