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Theme of WYD 2008
Each WYD is given a theme by the Pope
taken from Scripture. This year, the theme is:
“You will receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.”
Acts 1:8
 These were words spoken by Jesus to his
disciples immediately before his ascension. This theme will be
the focus of the catechetical instruction during the course of
the week. There are two parts to this theme that will show up
in all of the preparation for WYD and the activities in Sydney
as well.
 First, this theme should help young
people understand the reality of the Holy Spirit as an active
force and in the world and in their lives. As baptized people
we have been empowered by the gift of the Holy Spirit who has
come to live with us. Even more, as St. Paul teaches us (1
Cor 3:16) we are temples of God’s Spirit, so God does
not only live with us, but even in us.
The second part of the focus is the
mission we have received from Jesus Christ himself to be his
witnesses through the world. Part of our baptismal duty is to
proclaim the Risen Christ. The question is: How do we do that
as young people in the world, through what we say and more
importantly through what we do and how we live?
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