CHICAGO (August 10, 2005) – Today and over the next few days, most of the more than 500 young people from the Archdiocese of Chicago who will be attending the 20th annual “World Youth Day” celebration in Cologne, Germany, will be departing from Chicago.

The international Catholic “World Youth Day” celebration event is hosted by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, and is held from August 16-21 in Cologne.

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, and Chicago Auxiliary Bishops Gustavo Garcia-Siller, John Manz and Joseph Perry will attend portions of the World Youth Day celebration and plan to meet with Chicago pilgrims on different occasions in Cologne.

According to Maria Perez-Eraci, Archdiocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator for Vicariate V (Chicago’s southwest side and southwest suburbs), the 539 pilgrims going to Germany from the Archdiocese are traveling in groups of 12 to 150; are composed of teens and young adults ranging in age from 13 to 25; and represent a variety of parishes, schools, ethnic groups and geographical areas in the Archdiocese. Most of the pilgrims will visit cathedrals and shrines in other cities in Europe before or after their pilgrimage to Cologne, and will be lodging in schools, homes or hotels during their pilgrimages.

Information about the pilgrims and the Cardinal’s schedule in Cologne is attached.

Chicago-area pilgrims already en-route to Germany :

• 12 pilgrims from St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn (Pre-trip to Spain, Portugal and France)
• 50 pilgrims from Queen of All Saints, Chicago(Pre-trip to Lourdes)
• 22 pilgrims from the University of Illinois-Chicago’s John Paul II Center
• 12 pilgrims from Transfiguration Parish, Wauconda ( Pre-trip to Paris and Brussels)

Chicago-area pilgrims yet to leave include :

Wednesday, August 10:

1) 35 pilgrims from St. Julie Billiart Parish, Tinley Park
2) 60 pilgrims from Southwest side/Southwest suburban parishes:

Tinley Park : St. George Parish
Orland Park : St. Michael Parish
Chicago Ridge : Our Lady of the Ridge Parish
Chicago: St. Christina Parish

Saturday, August 13:

49 pilgrims from Northwest/West Suburban Parishes

Western Springs: St. John of the Cross Parish
Buffalo Grove: St. Mary Parish (10)
Inverness: Holy Family Parish (14)
Northwest Suburban Young Adult Youth Ministry (15)

Sunday, August 14:

1) 35 pilgrims from Chicago’s west side parishes ( Post-trip to Italy):

Pilsen: St. Ann, St. Pius, St. Procopius, St. Francis of Assisi
Little Village: St. Agnes of Bohemia, St. Roman
West Side : Catholic Community of Austin
Logan Square : St. Sylvester

2) 125 pilgrims from Jovenes Hispanic Young Adult Group

Melrose Park: St. Charles Borromeo
Cicero: St. Anthony and Our Lady of the Mount Parishes

Dates/Events involving Cardinal George during World Youth Day Celebration in/near Cologne

Wednesday, August 17
10 a.m.

Cardinal George will present a catechetical session for English-speaking young people: “Searching for truth, the deepest meaning of human existence”St. Francis Xavier Hall (S t. Franziskus Xaverius) Mörsenbroicher Weg 4, Düsseldorf

Thursday, August 18
10 a.m.

Cardinal George will concelebrate an international Mass that will take place in Cologne on the banks of the Rhine (outdoor covered stage next to Cologne cathedral) .

12:30/1 p.m.

Cardinal George and Auxilairy Bishops Garcia-Siller, Garcia, and Perry will meet with Chicago-area pilgrims for dialogue, music and refreshment Church of Three Kings (Dreikönigen Kirche) --Weißdornweg 91 50827 Cologne -- within the zone of Bichendorf in Cologne

Sunday, August 21
10 a.m .

Cardinal George will participate in the concluding Mass with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI – Marienfeld