Theme Song for WYD 2011 Approved

World Youth Day (WYD) Madrid now officially has a theme song. The anthem has been praised by members of the Pontifical Council of the Laity and the Vatican ministry responsible for WYD and approved to be performed at the celebration in Madrid.

The theme song was composed by Enrique Vázquez Castro, a Spanish priest and renowned liturgical music composer. It will make its debut on the feast of the Virgin of the Almudena on November 9, 2010 at the cathedral in Madrid. Click here to read more.

Catholic Action Warms up for World Youth Day

Following the Feast of Pentecost, the youth of Catholic Action have begun a three-stage spiritual preparation for World Youth Day in Madrid 2011. The program is composed of 13 steps, where each stage of the journey draws from a verse of the prayer in preparation for WYD and a biblical meditation from one of the Gospels of the period. To find out more and access the program here!

World Youth Day Madrid Seeks 20,000 Volunteers

The WYD team in Madrid are looking for 20,000 volunteers for the WYD week in August, 2011. In this video, Rome Reports looks at the important role that volunteers will play in Madrid, and explains how you can join the WYD Madrid Vounteer team!

I´m a Volunteer, Are You? Soy Voluntario, ¿Y TÚ?

World Youth Day Madrid has launched a campaign to recruit volunteers for the August 2011 event, producing a video to encourage young people to register as volunteers! Watch the video in English or Spanish, here on Xt3.

The WYD website has also just opened up volunteer applications - so click here to register your interest as a Volunteer for WYD 2011!

Introducing the Harvest WYD Tours Network

Xt3 welcomes the Harvest WYD Tours Team to iActiv8 - our WYD portal! The Harvest Network Page is the very first non-Diocesan network on Xt3! This page is designed to help pilgrim groups from Australia and New Zealand keep in touch before, during and after WYD 2011, and to provide a one-stop portal for pilgrims and group leaders to access information on WYD. Join the network today!

Volunteering for WYD Madrid 2011

The campaign to recruit Volunteers for World Youth Day Madrid 2011 will be officially announced on May 18 . From this date, if you would like to register as a volunteer for WYD, you will be able to do so from the official website. For more information, email voluntariosinternacional@jmj2011madrid.com - and keep checking iActiv8 for updates!

Cardinal Rylko explains to youth how to prepare for WYD 2011

Thanks to World Youth Day, the Church, as John Paul II taught us, finds its young face. It rediscovers its youth. Watch the video here.

Vatican Approves World Youth Day Patrons

The Vatican has approved the patron saints for the August 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid. The saints include St. Isidore the Worker and his wife St. María de la Cabeza; St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross; St. Rose of Lima; St. Francis Xavier; and St. Rafael Arnáiz. Find out more here on Xt3!

Pope to Youth in Turin: See You in Madrid

During the Holy Father's visit to Turin, the Pope encouraged the youth of the world not to fear commitment, and called on the young people in Turin to come to world youth day in Madrid. Click here to read more of the Holy Father's words!

Pope Benedict XVI to Visit Fatima in May

Benedict XVI is expected to travel to Fatima and other cities in Portugal in May. Its expected that he will celebrate a Mass in the shrine of Fatima on May 13th, 93 years after the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to three peasant children, Jacinta, Lucia and Francisco. Watch this video for more!