Pope John Paul II convenes World Youth Day events in huge public venues in various parts of the world every other year. This one huge event, focusing on youth, will give the teenagers a sense of scope of the universal nature of the Catholic Church. Also, the Diocese of San Jose is composed of 15 cities and many neighborhoods with great diversity among the people. The universal dimension of Confirmation 2001 will highlight the diversity of the diocese and will bring diverse people together in one huge statement about this local church. The entire event, approximately three to four hours in the afternoon of May 27, will begin with a multicultural and multidimensional prelude, prayerful and spiritual, including some local youth and campus ministry musical groups.
Plans are still in progress regarding the program for the prelude portion of the event.
Then, Bishop McGrath will preside at Mass, during which young people will be confirmed by him and priests of the diocese. Parishes are in the process of providing names to the committee planning the event regarding the number of confirmands and their sponsors. Also, young children in parishes which are implementing the restored sequence of the rites of initiation will not be confirmed at the Arena. Those will take place at the parishes. Confirmation 2001 will be for all confirmation candidates of parochial schools, Catholic high schools and parish religious education programs, junior high through high school.