Dozens of pilgrims from the Diocese of Toledo made the long journey to Sydney, Australia, in July to celebrate their faith at World Youth Day (WYD) with Pope Benedict XVI.

Joining with hundreds of thousands of Catholic youth from more than 170 nations, they participated in catechesis, Masses, devotions, and praise and worship events around the city July 15-20.

Pilgrims from the Diocese of Toledo take a break from World Youth Day activities in Sydney. (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Price)

“It’s good to see there’s an entire world of people who are on the same path as you,” says Jared Price, 27, who traveled with a group from the Diocese of Toledo that included his brother and mother.

Mr. Price, a Tiffin native who now lives in Columbus and belongs to St. Joseph Cathedral Parish, says the pilgrims provide a support system for one another. He found it affirming to spend time with so many young people from around the world who share the same beliefs and struggles.

“It’s kind of a hopeful thing for my generation, to see other people of the same age not afraid to show their faith,” agrees his brother, Justin Price, 25. “Everywhere you look, there [are] pilgrims just walking all over the city.”

The pilgrims enjoyed learning about other cultures as they interacted with Catholics from around the world. The younger Mr. Price, who also lives and works in Columbus, says the experience made him realize “faith is universal.”

Father Douglas Garand, pastor of Toledo St. Catherine, says the small group of young adults from Sandusky, Fostoria, Bloomville, Columbus and Chicago that he traveled with faithfully took part in the many WYD events offered around the city.

The priest chuckles recalling the day he went to confession intending to give the rest of the group a good example.

“After I did that and we were talking about it later, I found out that everybody else in the group had already been to confession, and I was a little late on the example there,” he laughs.

“Parallel to what the pope said, young people really do have a role in the church, and they can provide leadership,” Fr. Garand continues. “They didn’t wait for me to do something — they were engaged and participating.”

Local pilgrims attended the opening Mass celebrated by Sydney Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo, a setting Jared Price describes as “a giant shipping dock they converted into a massive grouping area for all the pilgrims.”

They also attended catechesis sessions with various bishops that related to the WYD theme, “You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You, and You Will Be My Witnesses.”

Chris Turner of Perrysburg St. Rose says a highlight for him was attending a large praise and worship event to listen to popular Christian music artist Matt Maher with thousands of other young people.

A recent graduate of The Ohio State University, Mr. Turner, 22, is beginning an internship in Georgia with Life Teen this fall. He also attended the last World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, and says the events have opened his eyes to the scope and diversity of the Catholic Church.

Another favorite event of the week cited by local pilgrims was the candlelit vigil that drew more than 200,000 young people to Royal Randwick Racecourse July 19. Thousands of excited pilgrims streamed across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to assemble at the track for the vigil, which began with a candle lighting ceremony.

“It was just amazing to see how many candles were there,” says Zeb Kromer, a junior from Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic High School who traveled with his older sister, Brett, in Fr. Garand’s group.

Pope Benedict led eucharistic adoration and Benediction, and most pilgrims camped out on the track for the papal Mass the following morning.

Jared Price marvels at the willingness of so many thousands of young people to camp out in the cold temperatures — which dipped into the 40s overnight — and wait for the pope to arrive for Mass.

“There were tents and sleeping bags everywhere you looked, and jubilant, happy people singing and praying together,” recalls his mother, Carolyn Price of Crestline St. Joseph.

About 350,000 people attended the closing Mass with Pope Benedict July 20.

“Looking out at all of us, [Pope Benedict] looked energized and happy to be there, and that reflected back to us,” recalls Mrs. Price. “It was awesome — once in a lifetime for a lot of people.”

Brett Kromer, 19, of Sandusky St. Mary says attending WYD renewed her faith because “everything you do there is about God.”

Pilgrims can learn how to make God a part of their daily lives “by going there and seeing how other people do it,” adds Ms. Kromer, a student at Otterbein College.

Matthew Frisbee, 21, a senior at St. Joseph College Seminary and native of Rossford All Saints, says his experience in Sydney “reiterated and reminded” him of the importance of youth ministry to the future of the church.

Getting young people excited about their faith helps them “build a foundation and continue to live this throughout their life,” adds Mr. Frisbee.

Fr. Garand, who has attended the last three international World Youth Days, says it is invigorating to see such strong faith in young Catholics at the events.

“These big events in the church really help to stimulate that for them, but also help other people to know and see that there’s a lot going on,” says Fr. Garand. “We have a lot of great gifts, and the Spirit does guide us and continues to guide us into the future, and it’s good.”