Preparing for Madrid 2011: World Youth Day

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011--Madrid, Aug. 16-21.

UPDATES:
World Youth Day Final Roundup: What a great success VISION had in Madrid this World Youth Day! We are so excited to report that we had many amazing people stop at our booth and we gathered around 1200 new emails. This is great for VISION and we are very delighted to welcome these new additions to the VISION family. VISION is looking forward to the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. Thank you to all those who helped contribute to our success! 

We will be posting pictures and information on our new Facebook page "Likes God". Please make sure to "like" our page and to check it for updates.

Aug. 19: The Pope assured 1,600 nuns, representing nearly 300 religious communities and institutes that the Church and society continue to need the “Gospel Radicalism” of their religious consecration.

Aug. 18: Pope Benedict XVI in his opening greeting stressed the value of friendship with Jesus and invited everyone to take advantage of “these days to know Christ better”.

Aug. 18: Distributed all the VISION giveaways. Put Like's God stickers on 5,000 pilgrims!

Aug. 15: VISION folks on the ground in Madrid. Trying to register for WYD amid general chaos.  

July 23: VISION offers a refresher on How to make a good Confession--just in case you're one of the WYD participants selected to confess to the Pope!
July 19: Prepare yourself for World Youth Day by signing up for Take Five for Faith daily reflections.
July 11: World Youth Day: "An experience that changes your life" according to recent poll.
July 5: Pope Benedict XVI will highlight Confession at World Youth Day. He will spend an hour hearing the confessions of WYD participants before he celebrates Mass on August 20. By his example the Holy Father is underlining the importance of sacramental Confession, particularly for young people.

In collaboration with Holy Cross Family Ministries, VISION Vocation Network was an exhibitor at the Home for English-speaking Pilgrims at the Palacio de Desportes. Those who stopped by our booth were greeted with an assortment of Likes God goodies:Gum, Hand Sanitizers, Stickers, USB drivesm Bracelets, Bookmarks, and Chocolate!

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MORE WORLD YOUTH DAY FACTS Patron saints: St. Isidore, St. John of the Cross, St. Maria de la Cabeza, St. John of Avila, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Rose of Lima, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Rafael Arnaiz, St. Francis Xavier. The list of the patrons encompasses the history of the Church in Spain. More at Catholic News Agency

Attendees: Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics along with youth ministers and chaperones.