Czechs Raising Money for World Youth Day

A public fundraising campaign is under way to help youth from the Czech Republic  to attend World Youth Day this August (16 - 21, 2011) in Madrid. Organizers of the Czech youth also need to secure facilities in Spain and prepare Czech-language materials for worship and catechesis.

Prague (CZ): The Association of Christian Youth Communities, in collaboration with the Youth Section of the Czech Bishops' Conference, started the fundraisig campaign for World Youth Day January 18, 2011. Donations will be collected till the end of September, 2011 and then used to reimburse pilgrims. Young people are also raising funds through the sale of World Youth Day memorabilia. And they are seeking sponsors in their local parishes. 

Beside the financial support of young people to get to the WYD to Madrid the collected money will be partly used to cover costs connected with organisation of the participation at the WYD Madrid.  For Czech young pilgrims the Youth committee of the Czech Bishops´ Conference will prepare background facilities for WYD – Czech national centre in Madrid, the accompanying program and materials for worships, catechesis and Holy Masses in Czech language (brochure for pilgrims and special song book for WYD)  etc.

It is calculated with the attendance of 1500 – 2000 young people from the Czech Republic at the WYD in Madrid. Czech national centre in Madrid will ensure following services for Czech young pilgrims: information about the events for pilgrims, translations, health service (there will be Czech doctors and nurses in the centre), assistance to solve various problematic and crisis situations, technical support, press service etc.

This is not the first public collection to benefit Czech youth. Similar programs were organized for youth events in 2007 and 2008. 

The organizers of this campaign, however, seek not only to ensure economic support, but are also inviting people to pray for the Holy Father's meeting with youth from around the world. The bishops' youth committee published posters and prayer cards with a prayer for this purpose.

If you wish, you can make your contribution on the following account:

Name of the bank: UniCredit Bank Czech Republic, a. s.

Account number: 2106192900

Code of the bank: 2700

BIS (SWIFT) code: BACXCZPP

IBAN: CZ5427000000002106192900

We thank you very much for your generosity in advance.

Further information: P. Vit Zatloukal, Director of Section for youth Czech Bishops' Conference Thákurova 3, 160 00 Praha 6 Czech republic zatloukal@cirkev.cz