Fr. Danner organizes trip to World Youth Day in Germany

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 19, 2004

Attention young adults of the Diocese of Sioux City, Father Brian Danner, pastor at St. Malachy Parish in Madrid, is planning a trip to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. The trip will take place Aug. 14 to Aug. 23, 2005.

The WYD committee has not yet sent out the registration forms, but hotel space in the Cologne area is almost sold out, so demand is very high.

Father Danner has already booked a reservation at a clean moderate hotel inside the city in a good location near the central train station. However, in order to keep the reservation, he must make a non-refundable deposit on every room that is held. After Sept. 1, reservations will be taken on a space available basis only. If people are interested in participating in WYD Cologne, they need to reserve a spot now.

The deposits will initially be sent without a name in order to protect the money and allowing for a name change if necessary before final payment. Father Danner wants people to understand that once monies are paid they are non-refundable unless the person finds a replacement.

The first payment of $200 is due by Aug. 30. This amount is a non-refundable deposit. The second payment of $500 will be due Nov. 1 and will also be non-refundable. The final payment of $2,059 will be on March 1. The total amount for the trip is $2,759.

The diocesan package includes:

*Air transportation from Des Moines to Germany

*Deluxe Motorcoach Transfers from the airport to the hotel in Cologne, Germany

*Eight nights hotel accommodations in double occupancy rooms in a centrally located hotel in Cologne

*Bilingual escort

*Continental breakfast daily at the hotel

*Two dinners at the hotel or nearby restaurant

*World Youth Day fees including badges, some lunches and rail transfers to all events ($200 USD)

*All airline taxes and hotel taxes as of 8/1/04

*All tips to drivers and guides

*T-shirt with the WYD logo

The trip will begin on Aug. 14 when the group attending will meet to fly out of Des Moines. On Aug. 15, after site seeing and traveling from their destination air city, the group will arrive in Cologne. The next day will be spent getting acquainted with their surroundings and attending opening ceremonies for WYD 2005. Aug. 17 through 19 the group will participate in WYD activities.

"We don't live in this world for ourselves," said Father Danner. "I think it is important for young adults to experience our faith together and not only locally, diocesan wide or state wide but at times internationally. This event is held every two years, and this is just one avenue of doing that."

The Cologne World Youth Day and Vigil will be Aug. 20. The group will join the other participants of WYD at the vigil site and stay over night there. The next morning those attending will experience the closing Mass officiated by the Holy Father which will conclude the WYD festivities.

Aug. 22 will be a free day to explore or take a tour in Cologne. The group will return to the states on Aug. 23 with arrival in Iowa late in the evening.

The theme of World Youth Day 2005, the 20th WYD, is "We have come to worship him," Matthew 2:2.

"I think it is important for our young adults to get together to discover the 'young and modern mystery of the church' (John Paul II) through the common experience of pilgrimage, prayer and worship," said Father Danner. "The church has so much to say to young people. And, young people have a great deal to share and offer through their various ministries to the church. I agree with the Holy Father that dialogue with our young people needs to be consistently shared and provided on a regular basis. World Youth Day provides that opportunity."

World Youth Day is celebrated every year. Every two or three years there is an international gathering. In the other years it is celebrated in the local parish or diocese. Internationally World Youth Day is celebrated on Palm Sunday unless the local episcopal conference has designated otherwise. In the United States, the bishops designated the 30th Sunday in ordinary time to be celebrated as World Youth Day annually.

According to Pope John Paul II, "The church has much to say to young people, and they have much to say to the church. This mutual dialogue must be open-hearted, clear and courageous. It fosters encounter and exchange between the generations and becomes a source of wealth and youth for the church and society."

In 2002, at WYD in Toronto Canada there were about 57,000 attendees from the United States and about 800,000 attendees in all. These numbers are the total at the closing Mass which includes many local people that attend only that event.

"I have been told that those who have gone before to this event come back uplifted, rejuvenated and excited," said Father Danner.

The travel arrangements are being made by Star Destinations of Carroll. They can be reached at (800) 284-4440. For more information or to reserve a spot contact Father Danner at (515) 795-2731 or email at FRBJD@att.net.