Young people can find themselves at the margins in the local church, but at World Youth Day they can meet peers and reflect on how God wants them to live. Then within that they also meet young people who have entered into the dialogue we all have to have with our Creator, asking, 'What would you have me do?'" said Archbishop Joseph Tobin, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

At the event, they will be sharing an experience with hundreds of thousands of their peers from around the world, which provides them with opportunities for liturgical and silent prayer and catechesis, they will meet young people who already are finding "realisation, freedom and joy in religious life or priesthood," he said.

The Aug. 16-21 celebration of World Youth Day in Madrid will be the first international youth gathering to feature a special Papal meeting with religious women under the age of 35. Some 1,500 sisters will have their meeting with the pope on August 19. The next morning, the Pope will celebrate Mass with about 4,000 seminarians.

The gatherings, Archbishop Tobin said, are important for those considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life as well as for those who already have embarked on their journey toward vows or ordination.

World Youth day events can be followed by clicking here;

Information about the WYD Vocations Fair can be found by clicking here;

Origional Article from Catholic News can be accessed here;