As the Vatican celebrates the 25th anniversary of the WYD Cross,
The Diocese of Amarillo started their own Diocesan WYD Cross that was blessed on April 18, 2009 by Bishop
Patrick Zurek. The Cross will travel around the Diocese hosted by the Diocese of Amarillo parishes until August 2011 when
the Diocesan Delegation for WYD travels to Madrid Spain for WYD.
It was, in fact, April 22, 1984, when at the end of the Holy
Year of Redemption, the beloved John Paul II entrusted to the youth of the world the great cross of wood, which by his own
desire was kept at the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica during the special Jubilee Year.
When Pope John Paul II gave the cross to the youth,
he told them to bring the cross to the world "as a sign of the love of the Lord Jesus for humanity, and to announce to
all that there is salvation and redemption only in Christ who died and is risen."
The cross was accepted in the international youth center of San
Lorenzo, and from there began to travel to the continents, opening the hearts of many young men and women to Christ the Redeemer.
Benedict XVI repeated this
gesture, once again giving the cross to youth representatives, telling them: "Dear friends, I entrust this cross to you
again! ”Continue to carry it to every corner of the earth, so that the next generation may also discover the Mercy of
God and have the hope in Christ crucified and risen renewed in their hearts!"
The Diocesan WYD Cross was taken to St. Laurence Cathedral after the
Youth Rally (April 18, 2009). The teen from St. Laurence Cathedral carried the Cross to the front of the Altar and now sits
at the entrance of St. Laurence until June 7, 2009 when they will pass it on to other parishes in the Diocese of Amarillo.
The Diocesan WYD Cross will usually move on the first Sunday of each month.
