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WASHINGTON (March 11, 2002) -- U.S. and Latin American pilgrims heading to World Youth Day in Toronto are seeking sites where they can find hospitality on their journey.
Groups and individuals who might accommodate them are asked to contact Barbara Anderson at banderson@usccb.org and indicate what kind of accommodations they can offer. It will be necessary to provide information about what kind of sleeping accommodations are available, for example, gym floor, retreat house beds, property for camping, if showers or bathing facilities are available, directions from a major thoroughfare, if food will be provided, if there is any cost involved, how many the facility will hold, and a contact person for the facility.
World Youth Day takes place July 18-28.
Some groups from the United States and Latin America will travel cross country and need a place to spend the night or just to get out and stretch before the next leg of their journey.
Some international groups will travel through the United States because they have found better transportation rates if they land in the United States and then travel from here into Canada.
Parishes, campuses, retreat centers, and schools throughout the country are needed to host some of these young pilgrims en route.
Groups vary in size and approach. One unique group is from St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Chino Hills, California, which is making the trip in memory of victims of the September 11 tragedy. Their group of 50 pilgrims plan to fly to Washington, D.C., where they will pray at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Pentagon crash site. They will then travel to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to visit the shrines there honoring the Blessed Virgin and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. From there they will go to Gettysburg to pray for those who were lost on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Their next stop will be New York City where they will visit St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Statue of Liberty, and Ground Zero, again to pray for healing and peace. They will then travel to Toronto by way of two more shrines in Quebec.
The group is looking for places to stay along the route where they can find basic accommodations and a modest meal.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' website, www.wydusa.org, lists some parishes, schools, individuals and dioceses who have already offered to host pilgrims. Still more are needed.