WYD 2016 guidelines

World Youth 2016 will be held in Krakow, Poland July 25-31, 2016. On November 25-27, 2015, Deacon Adrian Ng and I attended the second preparatory meeting in Krakow, and here are some updates regarding the event.

Jan 08, 2016

By Matt Wee
World Youth 2016 will be held in Krakow, Poland  July 25-31, 2016. On November 25-27, 2015, Deacon Adrian Ng and I attended the second preparatory meeting in Krakow, and here are some updates regarding the event.

As of now, 277 pilgrims have registered with the Malaysian contingent. The deadline for our registration has already passed. However, we have received some requests under certain extenuating circumstances. In so far as these limited cases are concerned, we have agreed to process them and the relevant parties concerned are required to submit their registration and monies to us by January 10, 2016. However, we cannot assure that these special cases will be assigned a pastoral worker or a spiritual guide to accompany them at World Youth Day. Also, accommodation may be at a separate place. Please note we are not extending the deadline of Nov 30, 2015. However, these are special cases who had contacted us prior to Nov 30, 2015.

During the preparatory meeting, the most contentious issue was about pilgrims below 18 years of age. One contingent leader shared his unpleasant experience of having had to accompany teenagers for medical treatment during previous World Youth Days. Our Malaysian contingent has decided to accept as pilgrims only those who are 18 years of age and older as at 2016.

There will be two venues hosting the main events at  World Youth Day. Blonia Meadow will hold the Opening Ceremony, Papal Welcome and Way of the Cross. The Vigil with the Holy Father and the Final Mass will be held at Campus Misericordiae. There will be two pilgrimage walks during WYD. One will be to the Vigil at Campus Misericordiae which will be roughly 5-8km. Another is called the Pilgrimage of Mercy to the Shrine of Divine Mercy and John Paul II Centre. This pilgrimage will include passing through Krakow’s Door of Mercy and will be carried out on July 27 or 28, and each group will receive their slot for the pilgrimage in Spring 2016. Like previous World Youth Days, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at Catechesis zones and Reconciliation zones.

Pilgrims may be assigned to host families, halls, schools, stadiums or military tents to stay in. Regardless, every pilgrim is advised to bring a sleeping bag to Krakow. They will have their breakfast with their host families or at their accommodation sites. They will then be given two food vouchers, one for a heavy meal and one for a light meal for each day. These food vouchers can be redeemed at restaurants, catering fields and foodtrucks marked with the WYD logo. Pilgrims with special dietary needs have to declare so to their hosts and look for a list of places offering specialised meals. Malaysian pilgrims may want to have some pocket money in case they need to buy any more food or beverage.

For pilgrims going on their own and not going with the Malaysian contingent, there will not be any possibility of moving about by private car or coach within the city of Krakow.

Transportation is by public transportation only and it is free for WYD pilgrims. Transportation from Krakow airport to Krakow is also free. Translation of the main events will be broadcast on radio. Handphones that can receive radio frequencies can also be used to receive these translations.

Zloty is the currency of Poland and is used in all transactions. Poland does not use the Euro. It is advisable to bring Euro to Poland and change to Zloty there.

The country uses electrical power socket type C and E. Please check that your plugs are of these types or get a universal adaptor.

In the light of the ISIS threat, the organisers have assured us that they are doing their best in terms of public security to ensure the safety of all pilgrims. A mobile app for WYD is under beta testing and is available for androids. You can download the app at app. krakow2016.com.

The people of Krakow are really taking a lot of trouble preparing to welcome us to the World Youth Day. They truly hope that it will be a thoroughly life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ in the city of Pope St John Paul II.

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