Yesterday was the Feast of the Triumph or Exaltation of the Cross. For the last two days on the S+L Blog, we’ve been looking at why we exalt the cross, an instrument of death. We saw that Jesus died to destroy death for ever, so we don’t have to be under the power of death ...read more

Today is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Yesterday on the blog, we looked at why we honour the Cross: Because it reminds us that Jesus died to save us. And this is where I have a problem. Why do we need to be saved by Jesus’ death? I remember growing up learning ...read more

“Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim…” That’s a song we all know, but what does it mean? Why do we lift high the Cross? Tomorrow is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross, also called the Exaltation of the Cross. Did you know that we celebrate this feast tomorrow? Have you ...read more

Last Tuesday, we kicked-off our WYD experience with the gathering for Canadian pilgrims – a first in WYD history and a wonderful way to begin our week. Yesterday, the feast of St. Rose of Lima, I had the chance to end my WYD experience with another national gathering – this one for Panamanian pilgrims that ...read more

Having been the Artistic Director for WYD2002 in Toronto, there is a very special place in my heart for the Youth Festival. This is the component of WYD, initiated in Paris in 1997, that allows the pilgrims themselves to be co-producers of WYD. The Catechesis Sessions and Main Events are planned by the WYD National ...read more

Recently I wrote about how God is a God of abundance. We may complain that He doesn’t always give us what we want, but He absolutely never gives us less than we need. Remember the words from Psalm 23? “There is nothing I shall want.” I’ve always been intrigued by the words that follow that ...read more

You can now find out stats and figures from each country participating in WYD. Just follow this link to the official WYD website and use the interactive map. The WYD Madrid National committee reports that there are currently 420.508 registered participants for the 6-day event. Many of these (133.961) will also be participating in the ...read more

It’s very quiet now at Salt and Light. It’s sometimes difficult to see the abundance of God in times like this. This past Sunday’s Gospel made me think of that. You know, the abundance of God. The point of the story is not that Jesus can make bread and fish out nothing – the point ...read more

by Robert Lalonde, ACN Canada Montreal, Thursday, July 28, 2011 – The 700,000 copies of the new Youth Catechism – YOUCAT – represents one of the biggest print orders in the world today. This book of 300 pages will be distributed to 700,000 participants at the World Youth Days (WYD) which will be taking place ...read more

The business of being Church is not an easy one. I discovered this while working for the WYD2002 office. I have said on numerous occasions that this amazing experience was a great blessing for me and for my family. One of the blessings is that I got to see the best of the Church. At ...read more