Thousands of youth from all over the world turned out in Sydney, Australia this July to be with and pray with Pope Benedict XVI.  Our Religious family brought over 100 youth from the United States and Canada to this event.  We began our pilgrimage by visiting the missions of California, including San Juan Bautista, San Carlos Borromeo, and Santa Barbara. 

In Sydney we met up with the 40 members of the IVE Taiwan group.  With them we toured the city and surrounding areas.  World Youth Day events included the opening Mass with Cardinal George Pell of the Archdiocese of Sydney, catechesis sessions with Cardinal McCarrick and Archbishop Coleridge, Papal arrival, a Vigil with the Pope, and the closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI.