This summer over 130 people from the Diocese of Spokane attended World Youth Day (WYD) in Toronto. It was an experience that most will not forget.

Here are just some of the responses that came in from youth group participants:

• “World Youth Day was special to me because I was able to see and experience the Church as a truly universal community. Also, when the pope was present among the WYD participants, I could feel the love for Pope John Paul II, and I could feel the immense love radiating from WYD was an amazing and life changing experience.” Maureen Willcox, St. Joseph Parish, Otis Orchards

• “WYD was very special for me because it allowed me to see the church beyond my community. I got to meet Catholics from around the world and I found that even thought we may speak different languages we will always share a common bond with each other.” Marjie Terpening, Assumption Parish, Spokane

• “WYD was a rewarding experience and an awesome opportunity for me (as a young Catholic) to experience the diversity of the Church. The fact that I was able to meet hundreds of thousands of other faithful youth was and is something that I will always keep near to my heart. There is hope for the future church and we are it.” Tarrin K. McCanna, St. Mary of the Rosary Parish, Chewelah

• “I never imagined that there would be an event where so many people could gather together without dispute. It definitely shows what is truly possible in this world if everyone would start to think about the things that truly matter, peace being at the top of that list.” — Peter Noble, Immaculate Conception Parish, Colville

• “I went on this trip expecting to have the worst time ever, but it turned out to be the best time I ever had, I met some great new people and seen a lot of things I never seen before. It really was worth it. Thanks for letting us become the salt of the earth.” Vicky Leonard, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Spokane

• “It was exhilarating to look out off the stage the vigil night and see hundreds of thousands of candles lit and knowing that all the people there were gathered for the same reason.” Luisa Pedroza, St. Patrick Parish, Walla Walla

• “The vigil and Mass were there best part of world youth day. Being with the pope in prayer as well as all the other youth there was just and incredible experience.” John Beachem, St. Thomas More Parish, Spokane

• “For me, World Youth Day was special in many ways. Many people label it as a life-changing experience, but it took writing this statement for me to truly recognize why.
“My foremost excitement came from travel. I saw new places, and met people from numerous countries and cultures. Just to realize that you were surrounded by thousands of individuals from around the world sharing in your beliefs amazed me.
“This was just one of the many experiences that challenged me to be more active in my faith life. Originally, I was under the impression that the pope was the most culminating and gratifying figure in World Youth Day. I found that although it was undoubtedly thrilling to see him from such a close range, it became his words, his example, his purpose, and his message that were the essence of our pilgrimage.
“He invoked us to love and serve God, by living a life rich in the beatitudes. We are called forth to proclaim his message, and shine as the fire of Christ present within us. We are called to be salt of the earth, and light of the world.
“Our ultimate purpose for attending WYD was to understand more fully God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. And how we, the youth of the Catholic Church, may evangelize the world by being living examples of Christ.” Andrea Wujek, St. Patrick Parish, Walla Walla

• “Attending Mass with the pope was an experience that I will never forget. He is such an inspiring person.” Katie Bloom, Assumption Parish, Spokane

• “It was truly moving to see the Holy Father and to be a part of such an amazing celebration of youth and faith.” Anthony Patterson, Assumption and St. Patrick parishes, Spokane

As you can truly see, this trip did make a difference. I would like to say a special thanks to all the many parishioners who helped to make this trip a reality through donations or prayers. In 2005 the gathering will be in Germany!

Friday, July 19
We gathered at St. Mary Parish in the Spokane Valley for Mass with participants, families and friends. After Mass we gathered as Bus groups, gave out the Diocese of Spokane WYD t-shirts, and took time to get to know each other.

Saturday, July 20
At 2 a.m. the buses were loaded and we began our journey. We traveled through the night to Helena, Mont., where we made our first stop, at Carroll College. We had breakfast and they sent lunch with us. After a quick stop in Laurel, Mont. for gas and a change of drivers, we continued on to Miles City. We stopped in Miles City and over took a small Chinese Restaurant (they knew we were coming). Then at 9 p.m. we arrived at our rest for the night: St. Mary Parish in Bismarck, N.D.

Monday, July 22
We left bright and early, traveling through Wisconsin and around Chicago, to our next stop in South Bend, Ind. We stopped for lunch at the University of Notre Dame and a tour of the campus from our new Vicar General, Father Steve Dublinski, who has been studying there this summer. Thanks for the great time, Father Steve! The stop at Notre Dame was a surprise for most, but I believe they really enjoyed it. From there we headed directly to the Detroit area, where we spent the night at St. Mary of the Hill in Rochester Hills, Mich.

Tuesday, July 23
In the morning we crossed the boarder and into Toronto in the early afternoon. We went to our housing at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Scarborough, Ontario, which is a northeast suburb of Toronto. We were welcomed by the principle of the school, Frank Seymour. After a quick unpacking and WYD materials handed out, the group made there way to Exhibition Place for the opening ceremony Mass. Groups came back between 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 24
The group in the morning traveled over to the local parish for a catechesis session which ran from 8:30-11:30 a.m. It consisted of music, a talk by Bishop Robert Morneau, auxiliary bishop of Green Bay, Wis., along with questions and concluding with Mass. Today’s theme was “You are the Salt of the Earth.” Bishop Morneau used a lot of poetry in his talk and was very thought-provoking. After the catechesis session, everyone headed down to Exhibition Place again for meals and the youth festival. The Youth Festival was a way for participants to share their experience through music, theatre, dance, exhibits, discussion groups, cafes, and prayer meetings. Travel was by city buses, to subway system and trolley cars or to the GO train. Many of our groups tried different ways.

Thursday, July 25
This morning’s catechesis session theme was “You are the Light of the World,” with presenter Bishop John Rawsthorne from Hallam, England. This session, too, was well done and challenging.
Because the pope was coming to Exhibition Place, no trains, trolleys or buses could come within two miles. As a result, groups had to do some walking.
The Spokane Diocese group was meeting Bishop Skylstad at Exhibition Place this day, but not realizing how long the walk would take, some of the group didn’t make it to the meeting with our bishop. For those who did, Bishop Skylstad shared a little with the group, thanking them for attending.
Then Bishop Skylstad and our group went to the welcoming of the pope. At 4 p.m. the pope’s helicopter landed and he was put into his car, the custom-built Popemobile. The car drove right through the center of the gathering; so many people were very close to the pope as he entered the event. He then got on stage and shared a welcome address. He ended up staying over two hours.

Saturday, July 27
The groups got up bright and early, some as early as 5 a.m. to head to Downsview, old airfield where the prayer vigil would take place that night. There the participants also would sleep and attend the Sunday morning papal Mass. They walked five miles (or more) to get there. When they arrived they set up camp and either slept, played games or listened to the musicians that were performing on stage. Four from our group were chosen to represent the United States on stage to sit with the pope. Saturday evening was the vigil prayer service with the pope. Then they spent the night under the stars.

Sunday, July 28
At 9 a.m., the papal Mass began and lasted until around noon. Bus groups started to arrive at their spot, located about two miles from Downsview, beginning at 2 p.m. The last bus pulled out of Toronto area at 4 p.m. A little later than anticipated, but we had everyone. We traveled across the boarder, through Michigan and into the Chicago area, where we stayed at St. John Newman Parish, in St. Charles, Ill. We got in about 2 a.m.

Monday, July 29-Wednesday, July 31
We didn’t leave until 10:30 a.m., heading west through the rest of Illinois and most of Iowa, then heading north to Sioux Falls, S.D. At about 11 p.m. we reached out stopping point: St. Lambert Parish. We left Sioux Falls the next morning around 8:30 a.m., with breakfast on board. Then traveled to just past the Wyoming border into Montana, where we changed bus drivers. We made one more stop to put food on the buses for dinner, then arrived back at St. Mary in Spokane at 3:30 a.m. Thanks be to God!

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