The Cork and Ross pilgrims are continuing to have a joyous and blessed time at World Youth Day.

On Wednesday, the group travelled to the Irish Rise Up Meeting, which is the world youth day model of catechesis. The biblical theme for
Wednesday’s catechesis was ‘Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country’ (Luke 1:39) and the topic for reflection was ‘integral ecology’.

In the evening, the pilgrims joined all the Irish Pilgrims to attend Evening Prayer. Sarah Ryan-Purcell and Roger Power from the Cork and Ross group gave a beautiful reflection on St Finbarr and brought holy water from Gougane Barra to be mixed with water from the four provinces of Ireland.

Pope Francis arrived safely in Lisbon yesterday, and the Cork and Ross pilgrims will see him today at the official welcome ceremony.

The Cork & Ross pilgrims going to World Youth Day have completed their final preparations.

They met at Mardyke House in Cork on Monday 10th July for their final preparatory meeting ahead of World Youth Day in Lisbon.

The evening started with the group enjoying some delicious pizza together, followed by a presentation on the practicalities and ​programme of events for World Youth Day. The evening ended with Compline and Examen prayer led by Bishop Fintan Gavin.

The group of forty young people are looking forward to travelling to Lisbon with Bishop Fintan at the end of the month for a week of prayer, worship, and celebration of the Catholic faith.

World Youth Day Pilgrims Roger Power, Fr Marius O’Reilly and Thomas Ferreira.