The Holy Cross will arrive in Sudbury, Ontario on Saturday, April 6 as part of World Youth Day (WYD) Ceremonies and World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto later this summer. This special Cross is a symbol of Catholic faith entrusted to the youth of the World by Pope John Paul II. The Holy Cross has been to every continent in the world and has visited many countries. As the Cross makes its pilgrimage through Sudbury it encourages all Catholics to witness their faith by welcoming the Holy Cross and praying in solidarity with all the world’s Youth.

The Holy Cross began its pilgrimage Palm Sunday, 2001 when Pope John Paul II presented the World Youth Day Cross to a delegation of young Canadians in St. Peter’s Square in Rome at a special ceremony. The Cross then came to Ottawa to begin its journey across the country visiting various communities and cities along the way to Montreal and finally Toronto in time to celebrate World Youth Day 2002. The Cross will serve as a rallying point to prepare for WYD 2002 in local Churches. There will be special celebrations, rallies, times of prayer and reflection, mass and confession and local pilgrimages. The Cross will be accompanied by Bishop Paul Andre Durocher and some of the young people who will participate in World Youth Day 2002.

According to the interest of the people in each diocese, the Cross will be carried to places where young people usually do not find God and therefore have a greater need of His presence such as youth detention centres and malls. The Holy Cross will be on display at various locations throughout the city of Sudbury from February 2nd to the 4th, including the New Sudbury Centre, parishes, Catholic secondary schools, and a senior’s residence. The first stop for the Cross will be at St. Joseph Parish in Chelmsford on February 2nd at 7 p.m. The next day the Cross will makes it way to the University of Sudbury Parish for a mass at 10 a.m., the New Sudbury Centre from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and Holy Redeemer Parish for a mass and vigil starting at 7 p.m. On Monday the Holy Cross will visit Catholic secondary schools; Ecol. Champlain, 8:30 a.m., Ecol. L’Horizon, 9:20 a.m., Marymount Academy, 10:15 a.m., College Notre Dame, 11:00 a.m., St. Charles College, 11:50 a.m., 12:35 p.m. at Ecol. L’Heritage and 1:30 p.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. The Cross will also visit the senior citizens at Pioneer Manor at 3:30 p.m. before moving on to St. Jacques Church in Hammer for a mass and vigil at 7 p.m. For more information on the World Youth Day Cross, contact the Website at www.wyd2000.org.