Contact: Andrew Walther, Knights of Columbus, 203-824-5412

MADRID, Spain, Aug. 11, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- English speaking pilgrims to World Youth Day will have a home of their own at Madrid's premiere sport and concert venue, the centrally-located Palacio de Deportes. From Aug. 16-20, the stadium will be transformed into the Love and Life Centre: A Home for English-speaking Pilgrims.

Groups of pilgrims from all over the world -- from Canada to South Africa, and from the Australia to Scandinavia as well as many from the United Kingdom and United States -- have already reserved seats for the site's full schedule of programming. The site is being hosted by the Knights of Columbus and Sisters of Life, and is cosponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries, Salt and Light Television, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, World Youth Alliance, Fellowship of Catholic University Students and the Apostleship of Prayer.

Musical performers will include Latin Grammy Award Winner Alexander Acha, Eurovision Winner Dana Scallon, "Best Local Band" in Washington D.C. Winner (2009), Scythian; as well as Cajun performers L'Angelus, and a traditional Spanish concert performed by a group of Spanish folk musicians titled Suspiros de España.

Speaking at the site will be Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop-designate of Philadelphia, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Father Antonio Lopez, F.S.C.B., Dean of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C.; Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, S.V., Superior General of the Sisters of Life; Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., C.E.O. of Salt and Light Television in Canada; Father John Phalen, C.S.C., President of Holy Cross Family Ministries; Prof. Helen Alvaré; Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel; and many others.

Also scheduled to appear are: Hollywood actors Matt Marsden (Transformers, Black Hawk Down), and Clarence Gilyard (Walker, Texas Ranger); Curtis Martin, President of the Fellowship for Catholic University Students (FOCUS); renowned theology of the body speakers and authors Jason and Crystalina Evert; and Father Jose Granados, D.C.J.M., co-author of the book Called to Love: Approaching John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

One of the Centre's most anticipated events will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 p.m. MarianFest, a celebration of the Blessed Mother, will feature award winning singers Alexander Acha and Dana Scallon; Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of St. Juan Diego; as well as American recording artist Danielle Rose; Spanish recording artist Luis Alfredo Diaz; and the Mexican singing group Adoremus Knight.

The site will be open Tuesday, Aug. 16, from 2 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 17, and Friday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The site will be open Thursday, Aug. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full schedule can be accessed at wydenglishsite.org.

In general, the site will feature catechesis in the morning, a speaking program in the afternoon, and prayer and music in the evenings. Confessions and adoration will be ongoing whenever the site is open.

The schedule is specifically designed to allow pilgrims to attend all official World Youth Day events, including catechesis, the Opening Mass, the Welcoming of the Holy Father, the Via Crucis, and the vigil at Cuatro Vientos.

All registered World Youth Day pilgrims are welcome at the site, as are media with World Youth Day credentials.