ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE DELEGATION JOURNAL:
PRE-TRIP

As we started our pilgrimage trip, we asked three participants to report upon their expectations.

Sean from St. Pius: I hope to discern a more diverse side of the church. As opposed to my own experience at Saint Pius, I would like to meet people from different countries and cultures.

In addition, I am really excited to see how different cultures celebrate our mutual beliefs and traditions. Just the concept of being in a place surrounded by thousands of others people from different cultures that share the same beliefs that I do is amazing.

I really hope to come home with a great sense of unity with the rest of the Church, not to mention having a good time meeting new friends “down under.” I can’t wait to land in Sydney and I want to thank everyone who is supporting and praying for us.

Kaitlyn from St. Ann’s: For this experience of World Youth Day, I hope to receive a sense of unity with all the other Catholics in the world. Yes, I have many Catholic and Christian friends at home and school, but this sense of unity will be worldwide and will enable me to observe difference traditions and cultures.

From observing these cultures I pray that I will receive the gift of piety from the Holy Spirit. This will enable me to be respectful to everyone around me.

I intend to uphold this respect for others and the Lord even after this pilgrimage. The Lord deserves the upmost respect from everyone, including e. Along with respect from the Lord comes love. I hope I will be able to deepen my love for the Lord since the Lord loves me and invites me to love in return. I hope that this experience will enable me to love my fellow pilgrimage this week. Yet, this love should not end on the plane ride hope. This love should never end. I hope that I will show love to everyone I see and that everyone will see the love of Christ through me in all I do.

Katie from St. Mark’s: For World Youth Day 2008, I am looking forward to meeting people from all over the world who share my faith. I think it is fascinating that we can come together and worship the Lord.

I am also looking forward to attending Mass with the Pope. I was too young to see Pope John Paul II when he came to Baltimore. I can not wait to meet Pope Benedict XVI. It is an amazing opportunity.

I am also looking forward to the Vigil and sleeping index the stars. I have never done that before so it will be a first for me. I also have never been to California or Australia or taken a long plane flight so throughout this pilgrimage I will be gaining many new experiences.