Hundreds of excited locals are expected to greet the World Youth Day Cross and Icon as it spends the week before ANZAC Day in the Diocese of Sale, in Victoria.

The Cross and Icon arrived in Victoria today to a celebration of the Stations of the Cross and public walking procession along the waterfront of Lakes Entrance.

The highlights of the coming week will include:

Welcome to Gunai/Kurnai country: Saturday 19 April, 9.00am-10.00am

The Cross, Icon and Indigenous Message Stick will receive a welcome from some local indigenous people of Gippsland at The Knob Recreational Reserve in Stratford, a site significant to local Aboriginal heritage. This will be followed by a public walking procession through Main Street in Maffra.

Ecumenical Public Procession & Glow Stick Vigil: Sunday 20 April

Members of surrounding communities will have the opportunity to participate in an Ecumenical Procession, encouraging wide community involvement.Later in the evening a Glow Stick Vigil and Youth Festival will be held in the town of Moe to generate a atmosphere encouraging young people to celebrate the Journey of the Cross and Icon to the region.

Witness Walk & Youth Festival: Monday 21 April

A Witness Walk will take place in the morning, leading participants through Neerim as it walks 7.5km towards the South Neerim Football Ground. From 5.30pm a Youth Festival will take place in Warragul, providing a stage for Melbourne band "Direct Influence" and local musician Tedd Cook to entertain visitors prior to the arrival of the Cross and Icon. At 7pm, the Cross and Icon will be greeted by the crowd as it completes a lap of the track at Logan Park.

Gippsland Reflection: Thursday 24 April, 8.30am-9.00am

The Cross and Icon will attend a short reflection at the site of the first Catholic school in Gippsland. The school was opened in Tarraville (near Port Albert) in 1852. The Reflection will be followed by a combined Schools Peace Massat nearby Bishop Phellan Stadium.

Fulham Correctional Facility: Thursday 24 April, 2.00pm

Prior to the local farewell, the Cross and Icon will visit Fulham Correctional Facility where a liturgy will take place for residents of the centre.

Around 500,000 people are expected to take part when Sydney hosts the 23rd World Youth Day from 15-20 July this year. The event will also mark the first visit to Australia by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Only 88 days to go to WYD08!