Dear Salvatorian Youth of the World:

It is with great happiness that I extend an invitation for you to journey to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008.

In August of 2005, I was visited by a group of Salvatorian youth from Australia who traveled together to World Youth Day in Cologne. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate our common Christian faith as our paths crossed in Rome.

Many of the youth I met with in Rome were from Sydney and are now preparing to host the rest of their country and the world. I encourage you, Salvatorians from around the world, to join them for this great event so that we may celebrate our faith and our community together "down under"!

I have commissioned Father George Kolodziej SDS along with his leadership team of Kelly Croll, Alyce Luci and Dan Fleming to assist you in your preparation for World Youth Day and to coordinate a gathering of Salvatorian youth from around the world in Sydney.

On our Mother Earth live many good people, even in our difficult times of war and terrorism. World Youth Day is a clear sign of an option for peace, mutual forgiveness, collaboration and a desire to build a more just and better world. You are the future of the world and of the Church. John Paul II said this many times and in many places during his meetings with youth. This is surely true and it refers to you, Dear Friends.

I wish you to be strong in overcoming whatever roadblocks you encounter in making your great journey come true, and I wish you a good spiritual preparation for this, the pilgrimage of your life.

Sincerely in the Divine Savior,


Father Andrew Urbanski SDS
Superior General

Father Dennis Thiessen SDS
General Secretary