Celebrating World Youth Day in the United States

Select a Date

Although the U.S. bishops have declared the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time to be World Youth Day in the United States, some parishes may not find this date to be the best weekend to celebrate their young people, due to other events or celebrations already scheduled. Rather than giving up altogether, talk to the pastor and, if necessary the bishop about the opportunity to celebrate World Youth Day during another, more appropriate weekend for your community. If you do choose another weekend, keep in mind that some of the suggestions, prayers, and resources contained in this session are connected specifically to the readings for the 30th Sunday and will need to be modified to fit the particular Sunday that your parish or school community selects.

Use the Liturgical Planning Guide Resource

Approximately six weeks before celebrating World Youth Day, meet with those involved in liturgy at the parish level and provide them with a copy of Resource A—Liturgical Planning Guide for World Youth Day PDF 177KB. Invite at least one member of the parish liturgy committee to be a member of the World Youth Day planning team, which should be comprised of both youth and adults. Their purpose is to plan and coordinate the parish or school’s celebration and other related activities involving World Youth Day.

To prepare your team, send each person a copy of Resource B—Reflecting on the Readings for World Youth Day PDF 350KB—which contains this year’s readings for the 30th Sunday along with commentary and reflection questions and Resource A—Liturgical Planning Guide for World Youth Day PDF 177KB. Use these resources to begin reflecting on the readings and how your parish or school might use this opportunity to affirm and highlight the young people of the community. Consider utilizing some of the ideas and strategies on the following pages.