World Youth Day event schedule is preliminary and subject to change per developments from WYD Council.

Day 1 Thu, Aug 11: USA - SPAIN. Arrive at the airport two hours before departure to Europe. Our flight includes meals, drinks and in-flight entertainment.

Day 2 Fri, Aug 12: BARCELONA. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and have time at leisure for activities on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 3 Sat, Aug 13: BARCELONA. Today, we enjoy a Classic Barcelona City Tour.  We drive via Layetana and view the Cathedral, Gothic Quarter and Plaza San Jaume en route to visit the Port and Olympic Village. Continue to Montjuic (Hill of the Jews) for panoramic views of the city and port, and tours of the Olympic Stadium and Sant Jordi Palace. Also visit the "Poble Espanol" (Spanish Village) to observe its regional architecture characteristic of early Spain. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 4 Sun, Aug 14: BARCELONA. After breakfast, we participate in activities on our own. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 5 Mon, Aug 15: BARCELONA - ZARAGOZA - MADRID. This morning, we depart for Zaragoza, which was founded by the Romans. Its luxuriant vegetation, with its many cascades and grottos make it a miniature Switzerland in the middle of arid upper Aragon. This city was also the birthplace of Goya, whose works grace many of the sites we will visit. The #1 Marian shrine of Spain - the Pilar Basilica - commemorates apparitions of Our Lady the Pillar to St. James in 40 AD, and here we celebrate Mass. Then, we depart for Madrid and travel south through the Spanish country. Arrive Madrid and have a panoramic tour of the city before we check in to our WYD accommodations.

Day 6 Tue, Aug 16: WYD. Today, we have time at leisure. About 5:30 pm, we celebrate Mass in Madrid's Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD. About 9:00 pm, we have the first activities of the Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program begins, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, etc. (details to be determined.)

Day 7 Wed, Aug 17: WYD. Today, we have catechesis session, organized by linguistic groups, with bishops from all over the world. These sessions take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid. This evening, we participate in the Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program.

Day 8 Thu, Aug 18: WYD. Catechesis session during the day. About 5:00 pm, we receive and welcome the Holy Father in Cibeles Square. WYD Cultural Program in the evening around 9:00 pm.

Day 9 Fri, Aug 19: WYD. Catechesis session during the day. Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program at 5:00 pm. At about 9:00 pm, we participate in WYD Via Crucis. Fourteen "pasos" of the Spanish Holy Week, from different points of the peninsula, go out in procession through the streets of Madrid around Cibeles Square.

Day 10 Sat, Aug 20: WYD. Preparatory ceremony at Cuatro Vientos (Four Winds) aerodrome 4:00 pm: Pilgrims arrive, little by little, and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.) to prepare for the Vigil. At about 8:00 pm, the Pope arrives and Eucharistic adoration begins. Planned is an address by the Holy Father. We then spend the night at Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where we can adore the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Day 11 Sun, Aug 21: WYD. This morning, the Pope celebrates Mass with thousands of bishops and priests and he will address young people, and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the concluding Mass, the Holy Father will announce where World Youth Day 2014 will be held. The remainder of the day is at leisure for pursuits on our own.

Day 12 Mon, Aug 22: MADRID - USA. Transfer to the airport for our flight home—the end of our Pilgrimage to Spain and World Youth Day 2011.