From November 14 to 21, Youth Ministry Montreal has organized a celebration as part of the diocesan WYD, to be held on the feast of Christ the King, in communion with the Church around the world.

In the past, the diocesan WYD was held on Palm Sunday, but following the celebration of Christ the King in 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed that this feast would now also become World Youth Day. First, it was on the Feast of Christ the King in 1984 that the Holy Father John Paul II proclaimed World Youth Day. In addition, Pope Francis wanted to move the celebration to a different feast day, in order to give greater weight to the festival’s association with Christ, since Palm Sunday was already the focus of so much liturgical meaning and activity. "It gave this feast a new theme," says Isabel Correa, Director of Youth Ministry Montreal. 

Montreal, a City of Festivals!

We know and love Montreal as "a city of festivals," as Isabel points out. "So why not a festival addressed to youth, to the Christian identity? This will be "a great week of festivities," combining efforts with numerous other partners "to celebrate and pray for youth, and to encourage them to explore various themes more profoundly." A special celebration for teenagers will also be held on Saturday, November 20. 

"In Montreal as in Heaven"

The event is called "In Montreal as in Heaven." On the theme: "But get up and stand on your feet; for I (…) appoint you to serve and testify to the things (…) you have seen …," taken from St. Paul’s Acts of the Apostles (cf. Acts 26:16), the whole programme is designed to "celebrate young people and the people who work with them!" explains the Director of Youth Ministry. At the culmination of the week, the whole team "hopes to gather together as many people as possible" for the Vigil of Christ the King on the evening of Friday, November 19, at a service of prayer and praise accompanied with worship and music, as well as time for reflection, blessing the youth workers and more. Then on Sunday, Masses will be celebrated in the parishes, all of which have received a special toolkit to help them observe the event in their own special way. 

The team will also be promoting the many youth-oriented initiatives included in their programming, and they are hoping to expand these in the coming year. "Too often, we get the impression that nothing is happening, that no one cares, that we are all alone... When you go out into the parishes, that’s not the way it is. There is so much momentum, in spite of what the newspapers say," Isabel points out. 

The program includes conferences, gatherings for praise and prayer, both online and in person, and meetings with various communities and organizations. There is something for everyone, so go see for yourself! 

See the great program for the week of the diocesan WYD, November 14 – 21, 2021.

Read Pope Francis's message for the diocesan WYD.