CATHOLIC MISSION’S
WORLD YOUTH DAY EXCHANGE PROGRAM
2007 – 2008

Catholic Mission supports the World Youth Day 2008 Pilgrim Partner Solidarity Program in a variety of ways. We can help with enquiries concerning communities throughout Oceania who are coming to World Youth Day in 2008. We can transfer funds through our international network to assist bring communities to Australia. The forms are available online here. And we can help organise a full on immersion experience to visit one of these communities in 2007, and then help host them in Australia in 2008. To find out more please read on.

So far we have received expressions of interest from a number of dioceses of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Torres Strait Islands, Fiji, Nauru and Tarawa (Kiribati), Tonga, Vanuatu, Tahiti and Samoa and Noumea who are all keen to host Australians in 20007 and plan to send a number of youth to WYD in 2008.

We are now in the process of linking communities from these dioceses to schools and parishes in Australia.

It is planned that a group from Townsville will visit the diocese of Aitape, a group from Rockhampton will visit the diocese of Kiunga, a group from Toowoomba to Kundiawa and two groups from Brisbane will visit Alatau and Kavieng, all dioceses in Papua New Guinea.

Other groups from Brisbane will visit the islands of Kiribati, Fiji and Vanuatu as well as Thursday Island of the Torres Strait Islands group.

Three groups from Lismore, NSW will visit the dioceses of Bereina in Papua New Guinea, and the two dioceses of Gizo and Auki in the Solomon Islands if conditions are still favourable after the devastation of the recent tsunami.

Another group from Parramatta, NSW will go to Wewak and one group from Sydney will visit the diocese of Vanimo, both in Papua New Guinea.

Catholic Mission is still looking for communities who would like to participate in a cultural exchange experiences with groups from the following dioceses: Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Island locations of Noumea, Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti.

Catholic Mission invites youth in Catholic schools, universities, colleges and parishes to take part in this exciting and life-changing World Youth Day Exchange Program. This program has been developed in communication with the World Youth Day national team.

Our Vision is that youth from parishes, Catholic universities and two or more students from each catholic school will be missioned to travel to various destinations in the Pacific rim to meet and build ongoing relationships with their peers, in a spirit of Christian outreach and solidarity during the term breaks in 2007. They will then host the youth from these communities when they visit Australia for World Youth Day in 2008.

Participants from schools must be in year 11 in 2007.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the program is twofold:

• to provide Australian youth with a profound cultural immersion experience in a non-western indigenous culture
• to pastorally support youth travelling to World Youth Day from non-western indigenous communities in a spirit of Christian outreach and solidarity.

For youth travelling to World Youth Day from the Majority (Third) World, the experience could be quite confronting. As hosts of World Youth Day we have a special pastoral responsibility towards youth from such communities, particularly those from within Australia and our immediate neighbourhood of Oceania.

Further Outcomes of the Program

Through their involvement in this immersion program participants will:

• Gain insights into and appreciate the culture of a non-western indigenous community
• Learn more about the work of the Church in another country
• Appreciate the spiritual wealth yet material poverty of many non-western indigenous communities
• Value relationships and a sense of community
• Critique their own culture from the vantage point of a culture very different from their own
• Search for reasons for the huge disparities in wealth between the minority world and the majority world from a justice and gospel perspective
• Develop an understanding and appreciation of the work of Catholic Mission
• Become an advocate for social justice
• Have a profound growth experience.

The Immersion Components

Regional clusters of parishes and schools will form groups of 12 to 14 youth. These groups will be immersed for periods of approximately ten days in non-western communities in the following destinations:

• East Timor (Young adults only)
• Papua New Guinea
• Various Pacific Island States
• Torres Strait Islands
• Remote Aboriginal Communities

Groups will be led by two teachers, most from a secondary school background.

Estimated Costs

Costs, including air fares, transport, most meals and accommodation are expected to range from $2000.00 to $3000.00 depending on points of departure and destination.

This will include the costs for the group leaders and a small contribution to subsidise the travel costs for the youth travelling to Australia from the Pacific in 2008.

Phasing

Term 1 2007
Expressions of interest and formation of groups

Term 2 2007
Training of Group Leaders and preparation of Groups

End of Semester Break June 2007
Immersion expeditions

Terms 3 and 4 2007
ongoing preparation of groups
immersion expeditions mid-semester break
immersion expeditions December 2007/ January 2008
de-briefings of immersion expeditions

Terms 1 & 2 2008
Planning and preparation of for hosting visitors for WYD

July 15-20 2008
World Youth Day Activities

Expressions of Interest

If you are interested in participating in this exchange program, or require further information please contact Damian Nelson at

dnelson@catholicmission.org.au
or phone Damian on 0438 743 588
or Fax: (07) 55 732523

and a comprehensive information booklet about the immersion experience containing details relevant to the group that will be formed in your region will be sent to you.