The World Youth Day Cross is the most significant tangible symbol of World Youth Day. Conceived by Pope John Paul II in 1983, it has travelled throughout the world as a "symbol of Christ's love for humanity and [to] announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption." ~JPII
In 2003, the Pope introduced to the pilgrimage the Icon of Our Lady, Salus Populi Romani, as "a sign of Mary's motherly presence close to the young people who are called, like the Apostle John, to welcome her into their lives." ~JPII
Local World Youth Day Cross and Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Each year, World Youth Day is celebrated on Palm Sunday both in the Vatican and on the Diocesan level. In preparation for WYD 2008, the Holy See has suggested that each Diocese have a travelling pilgrim cross like the international World Youth Day Cross. Our Pilgrim Cross is 7ft tall and made out of Missouri grown eastern red cedar. It will be accompanied by an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of America and Star of the New Evangelization.
The pilgrimage begins on Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007, going through parishes, schools, and youth gatherings, concluding on Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008 at a special Youth Rally and Mass.
If you would like your parish, school or youth ministry to participate in the pilgrimage, contact Sr. M. Consolata at (314) 633-2508, or at srmconsolata@archstl.org [1] .
Schedule
Date | Location | Contact |
| April 1-11, 2007 | St. Joseph, Manchester | Tom Lancia |
| April 11-21 | Ascension, Chesterfield | Amanda Buehrig |
| April 21-28 | Immacolata | Mike Miller |
| April 29-May 5 | St. Peter, Kirkwood | Dan Thraen |
| May 5-9 | Holy Infant | Mark Pilkenton |
| May 9-16 | St. Mark | Monsignor Hambrough |
| May 17-22 | St. Vincent de Paul | Fr. Fausz |
| May 23-May 31 | St. Mary Magdalen | Greg Robeson |
| June 1-2 | Sacred Heart - Florissant | Rita Sextro |
| June 3-9 | St. Dominic | Fr. Jack Siefert |
| June 10-14 | ||
| June 14-17 | ||
| June 17-22 | Project Life | Liz Buncher |
| June 22-27 | St. David | Deacon Jerry Politte |
| June 27-29 | ||
| June 30-July 2 | ||
| July 2-6 | St. Agnes | Janet Schwent |
| July 6-15 | Steubenville St. Louis/Mid-America | Rosanne Twellman |
| July 15-17 | Blessed John XXIII | Rosanne Twellman |
| July 18-27 | Our Lady, Queen of Peace | Terry Ostland |
| July 28-29 | ||
| July 30-August 5 | CYC Sports | Paul Scovill |
| August 5-9 | ||
| August 9-11 | St. Paul - Fenton | Sandy Reynolds |
| August 12-13 | Vincention Marian Youth | Shirley Klump |
| August 13-24 | ||
| August 25-26 | St. Anselm | Deacon Steve Wohlert |
| August 27-Sept 7 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 9-11 | St. Sabina | Sr. Joan, Pat Hennessy, Cheryl Entwistle |
| September 12-14 | Holy Spirit | Kevin Good |
| September 15-20 | St. Charles Borromeo | Sheila Kitzmann |
| September 21-22 | Boy Scout and Venture Retreat | Ann Lederman |
| September 23-29 | St. Joachim | Vicki Thurmond |
| September 30 - Oct. 6 | Our Lady of Guadalupe | Sr. Cathy Doherty |
| October 7-12 | St. Ann | Fr. Bill Kempf |
| October 13 | Day Retreat with Girl Scouts | Ann Lederman |
| October 14-20 | Blessed Teresa of Calcutta | Jeff Finnegan |
| October 21-25 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton | Brad Hood |
| October 26-28 | The Rock Church | Michelle Smith |
| October 29 - November 3 | St. Joseph - Cottleville | Fr. Chris Martin |
| November 4-10 | St. Joseph - Wentzville | Trish Seaman |
| November 11-17 | Sacred Heart - Troy | Michelle Lathum |
| November 18 | St. Gerald | Clara Brown |
| November 30-December 2 | St. John Gildehaus | Fr. Jeff Knight |
| December 3-11 | St. Gerard Majella | Jaclyn Laffleur |
| December 12-27 | St. Norbert | Deacon Bill Twellman |
| Dec 28, 2007-Jan 7, 2008 | Queen of All Saints | Maureen Bushman and Debbie Pleiman |
| January 8-14 | St. Catherine Laboure | Peggie Manuel |
| January 15-22 | Valle High School | Mario Pace |
| January 23-29 | Our Lady Queen of Peace- Bethalto | Norm Frisch |
| January 30- Feb. 5 | St. Clair of Assisi | Rhoda Hernandez |
| February 6 | St. Mary's High School | Fr. Brad Modde |
| February 7-10 | St. Peters | Stephanie Chartrau |
| February 11-17 | St. Francis Borgia | Kathleen McGovern |
February 18-24 | Immaculate Conception-Dardenne | Gretchen Pacheco |
| February 25-March 2 | Good Shepherd | Sherry Heumann |
| March 3-10 | Holy Trinity | Casey Collins |
| March 11-15 | St. Joachim and Ann | Rose Wieschhaus |
| March 16 | OYM for Celebrate Youth | Sr. M. Consolata |