Scottish Catholic Observer

by Amanda Connelly

With groups coming from the dioceses of Glasgow, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Argyll and The Isles and St Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland is making a big impression with hundreds of youth in attendance, ready to take part in the Masses, services and events planned alongside other young Catholics from across the globe.

Traveling by coach with 45 pilgrims on board, personalised hoodies and songbooks at the ready, the Archdiocese of Glasgow arrived safely on Sunday July 24, celebrating their first Mass together as a group on Polish soil on Sunday, all in the glorious sunshine.

Meanwhile Motherwell Diocese, who have young people traveling from St Augustine’s Parish, Coatbridge, Holy Family Church, Mossend and the Motherwell branch of Gonzaga Project, who arrived on the 23^rd, have met with other world groups and been enjoying the sunny climes in the Polish dioceses of Bielsko-Biala an Katowice, spending their first day at the Divine Mercy Shrine and the newly opened St John Paul II Basilica and Mass in the residency.

The Diocese of Galloway youth representatives have been exploring some of the culture to be found Poland, getting a chance to operate the lift shaft wheel in a Salt mine that helped to build the beautiful St Kinga Chapel, as well as celebrating Mass at the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Siemianowice Slaskie, visiting the Holy Dorr at Katowice Cathedral, and taking part in the concert and then Divine Mercy Chaplet and Mass alongside 100,000 other young peopl.

Paisley Diocese too, along with Bishop John Keenan, have arrived in Poland and have taken part in a local parish festival, PARAFIADA, as well as having fun celebrating Mass and playing football, chess, singing anddancing with new friends from both South Korea and the Dominican Republic, before setting off by bus from Czestochowa to Krakow.

The diocese of Argyll and the Isles and Aberdeen joined forces to celebrate Holy Mass together at the sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial in France, arriving in Poland after a stop over in the Czech Republic, while Saint Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese, spotted praying for peace today at Dresden Cathedral with Archbishop Leo Cushley, make Poland their next stop.

If you know of any other Scottish groups at WYD please let us know at [email protected]

PIC: Archbishop Cushley squeezes plenty of St Andrews and Edinburgh pilgrims into a selfie.