Liz Lillis shares some more pilgrim stories from World Youth Day in Sydney.  

Canada

Waiting for the Pope to arrive, 15-year-old Canadian Chelsea Kennedy sits with members of her family and parish.

She is a long way from her home in Enoch, Alberta a small community which sits in a Native Reserve. Chelsea has 10 family members with her, including her grandmother.

“I’m hoping this will make my faith stronger’, Chelsea says. ‘Everything has been great so far.’

I taka a photo of her with a native and Canadian handmade flag, Bethany Kennedy Chris Gordon, Chelsea Kennedy and Fr. Howard ‘Smokey’ MacDonald and grandmother Teresa.

Micronesia

Jerlyn Runguntman is also waiting for the Pope to arrive at Barangaroo. She has come from Micronesia, a small island in the Pacific Ocean.

‘It is wonderful to meet youth from around the world’, the 18-year-old says. ‘There are so many Catholics from many, many countries.’

‘I feel the Holy Spirit here and want to take it home with me. I will want to tell all about my journey to Australia for World Youth Day.’

Tonga

Soape Fakosi from Tonga is walking to Catechesis. He is staying at Olympic Park, Homebush, sleeping on the floor of an agricultural pavilion. 

His faith lessons are being held on a basketball court, where Olympic champions once played, which has been converted into a spiritual gathering place. He said he came to World Youth day to help his faith grow.

‘I want to grow with Jesus’, the 20 year old says. ‘I am keen to share a lot about my experiences with other young people at home.’

Kenya

Not everyone gets front seats for all of the events, but the pilgrims seem happy to join in the spirit of the event wherever they find themselves.

I watch the Stations of the Cross on a big screen, surrounded by young Kenyans waving their flags.

‘The spirit of our youth is being enhanced here and will continue when we return home’, says Kenyan Fr Mark Lepakit, posing for a photo with his friend Andrew Otemba.

‘There will be a greater sense of belonging in the church which we all will be part of’, he says.

Brazil

At Darling Harbour, halfway through the walk to Randwick Racecourse, Betania Santo Silva from Brazil is having a rest.

With the help of a friend she works out what to say in English. ‘I will talk about our experiences at home’, the 34-year-old says.

‘I love how this World Youth Day brings everyone together. It has been wonderful to pray with the Pope. I loved the Stations of the Cross and I really felt God in my heart.’

Nigeria

Sister Mercy Akoh is on a three year mission to Australia from Nigeria. She belongs to the Order of the Sisters of the Nativity and currently lives in Cranbourne in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and has been in Australia for six months.

‘It has been wonderful to see many people from my country here in Australia’, she says.

Sister Mercy has been sharing her vocation story with the young people in her Australian diocese over the World Youth Day week.

‘Many of them ask me why I became a nun. I tell them my story and I’m surprised at how keenly they listen.’

Sister Mercy said she is glad to be here as we talk walking to Randwick Racecourse.

Aged in her 30s, Sister Mercy jokes, ‘I’m glad I just made the age group for World Youth Day.’

Vietnam

Paul ‘Hiep’ Nguyen from Vietnam has been in Australia for the six months before World Youth Day learning English.

He is with young people from the Australian diocese that is hosting his visit. They have found their spot on the lawn at Randwick Racecourse and are settling in for the night.

Hiep tells me that he wants to become a priest. Only a few are allowed to be trained in Vietnam, and many want to join each year so he is hoping the Australian diocese will consider letting him join the seminary in Australia.

‘I have been enjoying spending time with my group and making these friends’, he says.

‘It is wonderful to see Pope Benedict XVI. It is helping my faith’, he says.

United Kingdom

On my way home, at Sydney Domestic Airport, I speak to two young women from Oxford in England, Georgina Whittington and Issy Grieseson as they write postcards home.

Both are tired but happy at the end of the week.

‘I called myself Catholic before this but I wasn’t completely Catholic’, Georgina says. ‘This has strengthened my faith. Before I didn’t let my faith affect my life, but it will be a major part.’

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