Why did you decide to participate in World Youth Day? What motivated you to attend the events?

My best friend attended the previous two WYD and convinced me to come. Since I was already in Poland to visit my family, I decided it would be worthwhile to meet up with her and other youth. I followed her advice and registered as a pilgrim with the Melbourne Archdiocese group.

Initially, I was excited that I was going to be travelling with her through beautiful areas of Europe. The magnitude of the event also attracted me – I couldn’t believe that 4 million youth had previously gathered in the Philippines (a record). Besides that, my knowledge of the event wasn’t extensive.

Before you took part, what did you expect to encounter?

I had no real concept of what it was all about. Unfortunately, the day after I paid for my pilgrimage, my best friend called to tell me that she couldn’t afford to go this time. I was shattered! I even remember regretting that I had ever registered – especially when I was leaving my family in Poland to be greeted by a bunch of people I didn’t know!

I had read the itinerary, but still didn’t know what else was going on besides sight seeing.

Quite honestly, I was very reluctant to be part of a pilgrimage!

Father and Ewa - Cologne, Germany.

So you encountered something completely different, something unexpected?

I was completely overwhelmed by the beautiful people that I had met, the knowledge shared throughout the pilgrimage and especially Gods Love and Mercy. It was a life changing experience – to say the least – one that I did not expect, nor intend.

We visited many churches and Basilicas, met an enormous number of incredible people and ate a lot of huge Italian Ice Creams in the heat. We also celebrated mass daily (something that initially frightened me); confession and guidance was always available and we had open discussions and catechisms about our faith. Together we grew in our faith, grasping an understanding of our values, and what Jesus is in our lives.

Could you describe the atmosphere of WYD? Perhaps the age of the participants, their nationalities, the activities/meetings that were organised...

Before the actual day with the Holy Father, we travelled through Europe as a group of around one thousand pilgrims (split into smaller, sub-groups). We met other pilgrims on the way, but arriving in Cologne was an astonishing experience. The city was ‘jam - packed’ with people from all nations. Youth in their nation’s colours – singing, dancing, praying and exuberant in their Love for God…and it wasn’t even World Youth Day yet!

The actual day was remarkable – literally, an endless sea of colours. Nearly 1 million people where at times still in prayer, or joyful with music and dance. Different cultures expressed themselves in their unique ways – truly beautiful.

The majority of the people where between the ages of 16 – 35. However, WYD was open to all – the whole city of Cologne was involved in hosting the event, and shared in the experience.

Did you create any lasting friendships? The best thing about WYD was that everywhere you turned you would see people that were on the same path as you – sharing a unique experience in a profoundly similar way. It’s very easy to make friends when you have such a fundamental likeness. I had met so many wonderful people! Of course, there are the few that I will probably always be close friends with, and many others I will always think fondly of. In fact, the memory of anyone that I met brightens up my day because they remind me of a remarkable experience. This is something we all have in common.

Ewa and her dearest friends.

Did any particular experience stand out for you? Do you have any memories that you fondly recall?

There were a few experiences that stand out for me. Of course the actual day stood out as a pinnacle moment in the experience – music, festivities, prayer and a sea of warm hearted people.

A mass that we went to in the Cathedral of Orvieto was also an experience - the most beautiful mass I had ever been a part of. There were around 300 of us, singing our hearts out – I just couldn’t pin point how something I had experienced so many times before, can impact me so differently. I found out soon after, that there had been a Eucharistic miracle in the cathedral in 1263.

The next day after this beautiful mass I made the decision to go to confession. In the afternoon I had gone for a run (something that had become a routine with a few of us). When I retuned I noticed that my WYD cross (that we were all given) was gone. I figured it just fell off the leather band around my neck – I wasn’t too concerned. A few hours had passed – I had a shower and changed into totally fresh clothes, had dinner, prayer with others and time to relax too. I had prepared to go to confession…but had thwarted it until 11pm! Eventually I did go and it was the highlight of WYD for me. I had never felt like this before. As I walked out of the chapel and into the lounge room, a friend of mine asked if I wanted to go with her to visit a beautiful cathedral around the corner. I was so happy she asked me – there was no other place I would rather go. At the instance I said yes to her proposal, I felt a sharp pain in my side and instinctively reached under my shirt. Before I could even reach the source of pain, my WYD cross that I had lost earlier in the day had fallen right into the palm of my hand. I remember looking at in complete and utter disbelief! I had lost it 8 hours earlier!!! My friend had said to me at that stage, that the Lord must be happy with me.

Some experiences that I had at WYD, cannot be exactly described – all I can say is that it was one of the best times I have had.

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

The Holy Father.