If you have an outstanding balance on your pilgrimage, it is imperative that you make a final payment as soon as possible or your trip is at risk of being cancelled.
Next Pilgrim Webinar!
Join us on May 30th at 8:30PM EDT for our 5th webinar of our WYD Webinar Series.
Before embarking on World Youth Day, we want you to feel as prepared as possible. Last month, we focused on spiritual preparation. Register for “How to Physically Prepare for World Youth Day”here.
Reminders:
Have you completed all your pre-departure tasks? Especially passport uploading, notarized forms for minors...
Citizens of the USA do not need visas to enter Portugal. But if you are in need of a visa, the application deadline is May 31, 2023. Please reach out to the WYDUSA office for assistance to begin the visa application process as soon as possible.
Have you purchased travel protection?
Have More Questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page on our website for any other questions you may have. If you are unable to find the answer to your question, please contact us at wyd@versoministries.com or (574) 383-9396.
For payment questions, contact Ted at (574) 383-9396 (x113)
For other pilgrim support contact Jenna at (574) 383-9396 (x106)
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is the only heart (besides Jesus’!) that perfectly loved God! We see references to Mary’s heart in Lk 2:19 and Lk 2:51, when she ponders on the mysteries of Jesus’ life. We want to imitate this pondering and this love for Jesus. Simeon prophesies that Mary’s heart will be pierced (Luke 2:35), and this is fulfilled when she suffers alongside Jesus during his Passion. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is often depicted with seven swords to remind us of the seven sorrows of Mary, and then wrapped in roses.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart was promoted by many saints, including St. John Eudes and Lucia, one of the children who saw Our Lady at Fatima. Our Lady told Lucia, "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."
We should pray to Mary under this title, make reparation for our sins and offenses against the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart, and find refuge in this perfect heart of Mary. She will always lead us closer to her Son!
Join us in praying the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novena for the next 9 days. The following prayer is to be prayed each day:
You can also pray the novena using this video as a guide.
We hope that your spring has been fulfilling and brought you new life as it did for us. Now it’s time to soak up some sun and soak up the Son (get it, hahahah)! You will get to do both on WYD!
Portugal is booming in the summer! It is warm, beautiful, and filled with tourists. The beaches and river pools become very full. The weather is mild in the south Portugal region while in north Portugal, the weather can be cold with sharp sunshine rays coming along the borderline of the snowy mountains. You can check the weather for Lisbon daily here.
Festivals which happen all summer reveal the culture, tradition, religion, and music of the region.
They include things like the International Sand Sculpture Festival, an arts festival called Serralves em Festa, and the St. Anthony Festival. Here is a video of some of the festivities from huge festival celebrating the patron of Lisbon!
One of the main events of every World Youth Day is the Via Crucis, or Way of the the Cross, with the Holy Father. You might be familiar with the devotion of the Stations of the Cross (find out more here!), which is the basis for this WYD event.
How will Portugal pray the Via Crucis? Every host country approaches Friday's event differently.
One of the most moving experiences was in 2008 in Sydney, when famous Australian landmarks served as the backdrop for each station and an Aborigine man depicted Simon, reminding us of past colonial injustices. In Madrid, the stations were depicted by pasos, sculptures used in Spanish Holy Week processions, from 12 Spanish cities.
Young people carry the World Youth Day Cross during the Via Crucis, the same Cross that traveled around the country to prepare for WYD - and has traveled around the world! (For more about the WYD cross, see here.)
Here is a video of Toronto's Via Crucis at WYD 2002.
Body Prep
Learn some Portuguese
Bom Dia!
Most people you run into on WYD might know some English, but it is always good to learn some of the language of the country you’re in!
Take some time to know some key phrases in European Portuguese before you travel over the ocean.
Before departing on World Youth Day, ask some people close to you for intentions that you can bring on World Youth Day.
-Keep these intentions in a journal, the notes app of your phone, or in your head. While on World Youth Day, you can pray for them in the beautiful churches, at the events, and at Mass.
-Send them a postcard of where you prayed for them, or send them a text/email.
You can use this graphic to send to those you want to pray for! Screenshot and attach to your text messages or emails to your friends and family.
Mind Prep
Understanding the Pope
It's hard sometimes to remember that the pope is not just a celebrity that happens to be Catholic!
The Pope is the Successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ upon earth. He is the Head of the Catholic Church and has the incredible authority of leading all souls to Jesus!
You can find out where we find the Papacy in the Bible here, what the Early Church thought about the Papacy here, or to learn more about why we even have a Pope, check out this video.
Tune into next month’s newsletter to learn more fun facts about Portugal!
We hope you've found this WYD Pilgrim email helpful! We are here as a resource and help along the way, as well as fellow pilgrims. Please don't hesitate to reach out at any point.
If you would like to view past newsletters or want to see other helpful pilgrim materials and resources from Verso, you can check them out by visiting our Pilgrim Resource Page.
Follow us on Instagram and don't forget to register for our next webinar of the series!
Blessings,
The Verso Team
Verso Ministries, Innovation Park, Notre Dame, IN 46556, (574) 383-9396
.png?upscale=true&width=320&upscale=true&name=I%20am%20headed%20to%20World%20Youth%20Day%20in%20August!%20What%20intention%20of%20yours%20can%20I%20take%20with%20me%20How%20can%20I%20pray%20for%20you%20(1).png)
