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World Youth Day Cross and Marion Icon Travel to University of St. Thomas

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The University of St. Thomas hosted the World Youth Day Cross and Marion Icon in the Chapel of St. Basil. The Cross and Icon will make a US multi-city tour from Aug. 19-27, 2018, stopping in Houston (only city in Texas) at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and University of St. Thomas. The next stop on the tour is Washington D.C.

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The World Youth Day Cross and Marion Icon traveled to the University of St. Thomas.

Highlights

By University of St. Thomas-Houston
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/31/2018 (5 years ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: World Youth Day, Marion Icon, University of St. Thomas, College, Catholic, Education, Catholic Education

As many gathered for prayer and veneration in the tradition of this pilgrimage, tears of hope flowed in the Chapel on this anniversary weekend of Hurricane Harvey, which shook the city and left many with nothing. The tradition of this cross traveling the world to touch many hands, and bring hope to many hearts arrived to Houston on a very important and emotional day.

"This cross, like us is on pilgrimage," says Fr. Chris Valka, CSB, Chaplain at University of St. Thomas. "It travels from the site to World Youth Day, to the next major gathering. To be united by the cross defines our faith, there are not a lot of objects in the world that have truly been in the midst of so many cultures, hopes, dream, terrors and injustices, I think it reminds us that we belong to something bigger. Whatever it is that we are struggling with at the time, this cross reminds us that there is always hope and not to lose that hope. I think that in this country and on this weekend where we remember Hurricane Harvey we are reminded that on our own we are insufficient, but together with the grace of God there is always hope."

World Youth Day began in 1984 by Pope John Paul II, and is the largest group of youth to gather in the world. This is looked at as a worldwide encounter with the Pope and is celebrated every two to three years in a different country. The next World Youth Day will be Jan. 22 -27, 2019, in Panama City, Panama. Pope John Paul II entrusted the youth to carry the cross around the world in remembrance of Christ's salvation, and to be present on World Youth Day.

"The symbols were given to young people because they asked Pope John Paul II," says Fr. Justo Rivas, Panama Priest in charge of the pilgrimage symbols. "He decided to give these symbols and preached to the world that the only reason for the cross is salvation and redemption, and that is the target of the pilgrimage. The cross means the love of Christ for humankind, he gave himself for us. He then gave a second symbol, the icon of Mary. This is a symbol of the disciple. We have to be the third symbol, by preserving the love of God."

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