Youth Walking Pilgrimage 2016 - JPIC Learning Hub

Background

The 2016 World Youth Day was scheduled in Krakow (Poland) from 25^th to 30^th of July 2016.

Objective

To promote collaboration between RSCJ from different European Provinces for the dissemination of the Sacred Heart spirituality.

To orient young people in their search for deeper spirituality and vocation.

Activities

Pilgrimage to Krakow to participate in the World Youth Day.

Promotion of the project to European provinces, presentation of the project to Hungarian local parish assistants (leaflet, booklet, facebook).
Preparation of the pilgrimage: collaboration with the POL province on accommodation and track definition, contact with hiring car company for luggage transport, preparatory meeting with pilgrims.
Pilgrimage on foot:

Date | Route | Distance

July 19 | Budapest - Stary S?cz (Poland) | by bus

July 20 | Stary S?cz - Przyszowa | 15,5 km

July 21 | Przyszowa - Tymbark | 19,5 km

July 22 | Tymbark Szczyrzyc | 15,5 km

July 23 | Szczyrzyc - Raciechowice | 9,9 km

July 24 | Raciechowice Wieliczka - Krakow | 24,4 km

July 25-30 | Krakow - Wold Youth Day

July 31 | Krakow - Budapest | by bus

Pilgrims were hosted in school gyms and classrooms.

Spirituality during the pilgrimage: Before breakfast, morning mass, along the way, during breaks, one hour of silence, at daily destination and before dinner, evening mass.
Participation in the 2016 World Youth Day: Accommodation was provided with Polish host families. In the morning, pilgrims met together as a group, after which they attended the Hungarian catechesis and listened to talks of the Hungarian bishops and archbishops. After afternoon and evening mass, pilgrims chose from the different activities: adoration, worshipping, dancing, listening to different styles of Christian music, watching theatre performances or films, visiting museums, and many other programmes.

Results

Young pilgrims were accompanied in their search for spirituality
RSCJ shared their spirituality with young pilgrims
Young pilgrims experienced hospitality of host families and villages that invited them into their homes and included them in local events.
Young pilgrims have kept in contact with RSCJ.
Young pilgrims asking for further spiritual accompaniment to RSCJ (retreats).
Young people with economic concern could participate to the pilgrimage thank to the grant provided to the project.
The travelogue of the pilgrimage gave life and enthusiasm in the elderly communities (for example Wien-Rennweg)

Non result

The object of collaboration with other RSCJ could not be reached. Although the project was advertised more than a year before it implementation, many provinces had already signed to other World Youth Day parallel events. Hungarian RSCJ proposed to have a European platform to share common activities.

Extra comments :

About the country: beneficiaries are meeting in Budapest, train ride to Poland and have an 8-day walk to Kracova.