A number of Irish pilgrims will be present at World Youth Day in Panama including Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Down and Connor. In a video issued January 15, 2019, Bishop Donal McKeown, shares his hopes for young people and the Church and encourages those unable to travel to get involved in events here at home as well as watching the events live from Panama.
A group of 30 young pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Dublin is making their way to Panama, joining thousands from around the globe for World Youth Day with Pope Francis. The group is made up of young people from Dublin parishes, third level students and several young people from around Ireland and Europe and who live in Dublin.
The Dublin group will arrive in Panama this Friday (January 18). They will all stay with families in a host parish, Parroquia Santiago Apostle. There, along with groups from Latvia and New Zealand, they will take part in a social justice program with local young parishioners visiting the elderly and housebound and help to prepare and deliver food to families in need in the locality.
On Saturday, six members of the Dublin Group will be taking part in a vital environmental debate Youth for the Common House – Safeguarding of Creation inspired by the Pope Francis’ global message on the environment, Laudato Si.
The Dublin group will also take part in the Opening Ceremony for the arrival of Pope Francis, the Way of the Cross and Vigil and Concluding Mass on Sunday 27 January.
Panama in Dublin
Panama in Dublin will take place in the Emmaus Centre in Swords on Saturday and Sunday (January 26-27). It includes a range of faith led activities. They will also be linking in live to the events in Panama, in particular, Pope Francis’ address at the opening ceremony, vigil, and closing Mass. Young people from parishes throughout Dublin will be taking part.
