Some of the WYD Pilgrims met at the Reboot Event with Chris Stefanick at Glasgow High School in March. Pictured: Amanda and Robbin Makelkey of Miles City, Mandy Bell of Libby, Brenda Rummel and Devyn Salsbery of Malta.
Bishop Warfel connects with World Youth Day Pilgrims as he celebrates the Sacraments around the diocese. (Kim Monson, Bishop, Terri Ellsworth and Jane Allen, Glasgow)
By Mandy Bell
Many parishioners and communities throughout the state of Montana have supported pilgrims preparing for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, this July. There actually are four different pilgrimage groups going to Krakow from the state of Montana—from the Flathead Valley, St. Thomas Parish in Billings, the Neo-Catechumenal Way and the one Bishop Warfel is leading which encompasses pilgrims from both dioceses of Montana.
The latter group is called “World Youth Day Montana” and includes a delegation of 68 from throughout Montana, plus a few relatives who live in Alaska, California, Washington and Texas. It’s a unique group of people ranging in age from 16 to 64 but the median age is just 23 years old. There are 43 women and 25 men, 4 Priests, 2 Seminarians, and our Bishop. Of the teens, 9 are still in high school and coming with a dedicated parent or chaperone, 6 more are graduating from high school this month and 3 young adults are graduating from college.
It’s an amazing group of people that only the Holy Spirit could bring together. They are at a somewhat of a disadvantage from the other groups because of the tremendous size of our state—most of them have not met each other. To help with this, all Montana Pilgrims (from all 4 groups) are invited to a retreat “Meeting Jesus on the Road to World Youth Day”, Saturday, June 18, 2016, at the Poor Clares’ Retreat Center in Great Falls. The retreat is free, thanks to a grant from Catholic Home Missions, but registration is necessary by e-mailing your information to Mandy Bell at mt.worldyouthday@gmail.com
What these pilgrims most need is your prayers: Prayers as they come together in the airport for the first time. Prayers for fellowship and love to grow in the two weeks they are together experiencing some of the most beautiful and sacred places on earth—Prague, Czestochowa, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Wawel Castle and Cathedral and the Divine Mercy Sanctuary. Prayers as the walk the same steps as St. John Paul II, St. Faustina and St. Maximilian Kolbe and pray beside their relics. Prayers that this pilgrimage will be life-changing for all who participate and that the energy and faith of these young people will ignite and illuminate the light of Christ in our world. Be assured that they will also be praying for you and their benefactors.
Please follow World Youth Day Montana on Facebook at “Montana WYD Pilgrims”.
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