#BreakingNews 34th Official World Youth Day begins in Panama, Central America - 5 Things to Know and Share!

World Youth Day begins in Panama, Central America. Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. It has a population of approximately 4 million people and its official language is Spanish.
This the 34th World Youth Day, 2019, from January 22-27, has the theme; 

"I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38)

1. History of World Youth Day

In 1984 at the close of the Holy Year of Redemption, over 300,000 young people from around the world responded to the invitation of His Holiness John Paul II for an International Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square. The following Palm Sunday, coinciding with the United Nation’s International Year of the Youth, Our Holy Father took the opportunity to welcome the youth of the world to Rome again. Later, announcing the institution of World Youth Day on December 20, 1985, and the first official WYD was held in 1986.

2. Patron Saints of World Youth Day in Panama

WYD Panamá 2019 has named eight great heroes of the Church to intercede for pilgrims and their needs.

Saint José Sánchez del Rio
Saint Juan Diego
Blessed Sor María Romero Meneses
Saint John Bosco
Saint John Paul II
Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero
Saint Martin de Porres
Saint Rose of Lima

3. Official Prayer for WYD Panamá 2019

Merciful Father,

You call us to live our lives as a way of salvation. Help us to recall the past with gratitude, to embrace the present with courage and to build the future with hope.

Lord Jesus, our friend and brother, thank you for looking upon us with love. Let us listen to your voice as it resonates in the hearts of each one with the strength and light of the Holy Spirit.

Grant us the grace of being a Church that goes forth with vibrant faith and a youthful face to communicate the joy of the Gospel. May we help to build up the kind of society we long for, one where there is fairness and fellowship.

We pray for the Pope and the bishops; for young people; for all those who will take part in World Youth Day in Panama and for those who are preparing to welcome them.

Our Lady of Antigua, Patroness of Panama, help us to pray and live with generosity like yours: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

Amen

4. Official Hymn of WYD 2019 in Panama

The official hymn of the 34th World Youth Day 2019 was inspired by the theme of WYD Panamá and by characteristic Panamanian rhythms. This worship song, which will be sung by pilgrims from every continent, was written and composed by Abdiel Jiménez, a catechist and psalmist from the Cristo Resucitado parish in San Miguelito, Panamá. Abdiel is the author of several liturgical pieces, a member of various choirs, and a graduate from the School of Religious Sciences of the Universidad Católica Santa Maria La Antigua.

5. Official Promotional Video of WYD Panama