Dear young people,
Did you know that on November 20, 2020, Pope Francis announced that beginning in 2021, the celebration of World Youth Day in local churches would now be moved from Palm Sunday to the Solemnity of Christ the King?
I have always appreciated the opportunity to celebrate every Diocesan World Youth Day with you. Such moments allow us to celebrate together our faith in Jesus Christ and to be witnesses in the city of our joy and our hope. In the spirit of WYD, Diocesan World Youth Day 2022 will be celebrated in four parts:
- TEEN Festival: Saturday, November 12, 2022, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- WYD MTL Week: November 13-20, 2022
- MAIN EVENT – Christ the King Vigil: Friday, November 18, 2022, 7:00 P.M.
- Christ the King Sunday Masses: in the parishes
It is in this same spirit that I invite you to join me on the occasion of the 37th Diocesan World Youth Day. This year, Pope Francis invites us to reflect on the following theme:
“Mary arose and went with haste ” (Luke 1:39)
Echoing the Holy Father’s message to young people: “Dear young people, now is the time to set out in haste towards concrete encounters, towards genuine acceptance of those different from ourselves. This was the case with the young Mary and the elderly Elizabeth. Only thus will we bridge distances – between generations, social classes, ethnic and other groups – and even put an end to wars.”
Come in great numbers to this celebration and invite your friends! While waiting to have the joy of meeting you, I express to you my most cordial wishes. I pray for each and everyone of you. May God, in His great goodness, fill you with His blessings and guide you on the path of true love.
Jesus loves you!!
† Christian Lépine
Archbishop of Montreal