YOUTH MINISTRY OFFICE

Join hundreds of pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Vancouver who traveled to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008 to relive memories, share stories and give thanks in praise and worship.

Spirit Day has grown tremendously in its four years, seeing close to 4,500 participants and chaperones gather to celebrate their faith over that span. Spirit Day is designed to celebrate the grade seven students of our archdiocese! This event will get participants excited about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and awaken the Holy Spirit in young and old alike! Put on by youth ministry coordinators and core team members from our Archdiocese, the day will include sessions, testimonies, games, music, skits, prayer, food, Mass and much more.

Past themes include "Live Out Lound" and "The End and the Beginning." Spirit Day invites and encourages grade sevens to stay connected to their faith and to God while giving them an experience of the "bigger church."

The annual Freedom event is a powerful, one-of-a-kind reconciliation event for youth, now entering its 9th year. The fi rst part of the evening is a general session including music, skits and dramas, teachings, testimonies, prayer, and an examination of conscience. The various activities, as part of the energetic and emotional program, help to prepare youth for confession. Dozens of priests are then on-hand to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to participants so they may feel the healing power of Christ.

Youth also have the opportunity to pray with prayer teams and to enjoy some fellowship. By the end of the night, youth will realize that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is nothing to be afraid of; rather a vital part of their faith they should celebrate!

Youth Day is an annual event for the youth of the archdiocese to celebrate and grow in their faith through a dynamic weekend of fun, faith and fellowship. Past themes include As I Have Loved You, Illuminate, and We Have Come to Worship Him. Youth Day brings some of the best local and international youth ministry speakers, and past keynote presenters and musical guests include Jesse Manibusan, APeX Ministries, Mark Hart, Matt Maher, Paul George, Heather Khym, Mike Patin,Josh Blakesley, and our most recent guests, Steve Angrisano and Tammy Evevard.

Youth Day begins Friday evening with icebreakers, praise and worship music and an introduction to the keynote speaker. Saturday activities include general sessions with the keynote speaker, divine time prayer experiences, men¹s and women¹s sessions, the teens vs. Men In Black soccer match, Mass with the Archbishop, and a variety of social activities. The event is hosted and organized by a different region of the archdiocese each year and is an opportunity for many youth and youth ministers to share their gifts and talents in planning this celebration.