Bishop Alan to accompany pilgrims to World Youth Day

Thirty-four people from the Diocese of Brentwood are set to attend World Youth Day 2019 in Costa Rica and Panama in two weeks’ time. They include Bishop Alan Williams, Fr Dominic Howarth, deacon Alan Mair and seminarian Alexander Johnson, alongside young people from the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service and the Diocese. Four of the young people are ambassadors from the Cathedral Parish.

Fr Dominic Howarth, who works with the BCYS and has visited the area in preparation for the trip, said: “The young people will not only experience 12 days in a land of astonishing beauty but will have the opportunity to be part of an amazing international gathering, an inspiring vision of the young Church with the energy and joy of 2,000,000+ others. The experience is partly cultural – discovering Latin America, and meeting young people from all over the world – but also includes numerous times of prayer, talks by Bishops and Cardinals, and Masses led by the Pope.”

He continued: “The T-shirts are printed, we are taking 5000 images of Our Lady of Walsingham to WYD thanks to @WalsinghamEN, and our preparations have culminated in a Mass and blessings from Bishop Alan at the Cathedral. In 15 days our adventure begins! Please follow updates on BCYS Instagram & Facebook from 17-30 Jan.”