The much-awaited re-launch of Connect.org.nz was celebrated yesterday with the ceremonial ‘first click’ by Wellington World Youth Day Ambassador, Josie Leota, and Fr James Lyons, the parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington.

The plan is to engage online as many young people as possible, building meaningful connections lasting long after the World Youth Day event with pilgrims and the wider population, and “Connect” is the means to do this.

World Youth Day pilgrims and supporters, including National World Youth Day Project Manager, David Mullin and Communications Officer, Lucy Ellis gathered at the Wellington Archdiocesan Catholic Centre to acknowledge the rejuvenated online infrastructure for young New Zealand Catholics. 

Connect.org.nz aims “to be an online infrastructure that assists young Catholic Kiwis to live fully and be connected to Christ, the Church and each other.”  A blog tracks the thoughts of the six New Zealand World Youth Day Ambassadors.  Other sections lead the site visitor through various aspects of faith and links to key resources.  This is supported by a YouTube channel which shows video diaries of pilgrims as they prepare for their journey and a Flickr page displays images of pilgrims and events leading up to World Youth Day and beyond.  Connect.org.nz is the home for all official blogs, videos, photos, competitions and news as well as linking into online social networks such as Bebo and Facebook. 

In a message of encouragement, Archbishop John Dew of Wellington congratulated the Connect team on their creative means of reaching out to World Youth Day pilgrims and young Catholics around New Zealand.

“The Connect.org.nz project is an essential element for reaping the fruits and bearing the legacy of World Youth Day. As a Church, we will not have another opportunity like this for decades,” said Lucy Ellis.  While World Youth Day will finish on July 20th, the World Youth Day Legacy will be the work of the Church for years to come.
Through the WYD08 experience, young people from throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in faith, meet, and experience the love of God. NZ will send its biggest contingent of young people ever to an international event when 4000 pilgrims journey to Sydney and attend World Youth Day in July.