Guests are a blessing: Days of Encounter in the German dioceses

XX World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne – just in Cologne? Not at all! Days of Encounter all over Germany form a prelude to World Youth Day. From August 11-15, 2005, you are invited by the German dioceses – from the coasts of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the Alps, from Aachen, a palatinate of former emperors, to Dresden – to get to know more about the country and to meet its people. Didn’t you always want to know what everyday life is about in Germany and what people eat and whether everybody drinks beer? Are you are also interested in how Christians and non-Christians live in Germany?

There is a lot to discover: internationally renowned sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, or less known but still fascinating places, romantic castles, beautiful museums, attractive landscapes along the North Sea, in the Alps, or along the Rhine. But above all, you have the opportunity to get to know a lot of people. Families and other people, are happy to open their houses to you. Your hosts will be happy to learn more about you and about the lifestyle and expectations of young Christians in other parts of the world. To learn from one another, to learn together, to learn about each other: that’s the whole point. For the universal Church is as colourful and varied as the nations.

Each diocese prepares its own programme for the Days of Encounter, in cooperation with the local Ministries for Youth. In this way you will discover the regional characteristics. The programme will comprise visits, celebrations, liturgies, and a variety of activities: excellent opportunities to know each other. If you want more information about how the various dioceses are planning their Days of Encounter, have a look at their special WYD 2005 homepages.

Fostering and stimulating partnerships

A great number of German parishes and dioceses have built partnerships with parishes all over the world. But cities, municipalities, and associations have also been fostering such partnerships. Therefore it might be very nice to spend the Days of Encounter in a partner parish. The World Youth Day Office in Cologne will take existing partnerships into consideration when assigning the various dioceses to the guests. Each diocese will then be responsible allocating the various parishes to the guest groups.