Riley Sanders, Age 20, Denver USA [See Picture of Riley & Michelle]

WYD was an intensely spiritual time for me. I went hoping to have a time equal to the previous WYD in Toronto, but Köln ended up surpassing it by far. It was wonderful to meet the other people in the CLM (Christian Life Movement) and to learn more about the mission of the CLM. WYD shows to youth the universality of the Church, with 1 million people gathered together for one purpose, “We have come to Worship Him”. This was also revealed on a much more personal level because I traveled with other members of the CLM from various parts of the world. I realized that our common belief in the Catholic faith overcomes various cultural and language differences. I also came into a better understanding of the personal vocation that Christ is calling me to, particularly because of conversations with others from the Movement. And of course, it was such a blessing to have a special seat by the altar for the closing mass on Sunday. I departed a pilgrim by another way.

Michelle LeBlanc, Age 27, Denver USA

When I hoped in the Lord He answered; this time through my first World Youth Day experience. My days there were filled with the joys of being with people of faith from different cultures, praying every day on trains and in ancient churches walked by many saints, singing energetically with the Christian Life Movement everywhere we went, meeting locals who were curious and who brightened up when we made the effort to speak to them in German, and finally journeying with one million pilgrims to find out I was one of only a few hundred who would be sitting around the altar with the Pope for mass! Each day I was there, the hardened layers of my heart were slowly being stripped away. But, it wasn't until I had recovered from lots of walking and talking and not much resting that I realized my life was filled with a new hope! My perspective was renewed and my heart was encouraged. My encounter with Jesus as a pilgrim was just what we sang in the theme song, "Emmanuel, God is with us." He is present always, in big ways and in small ways, as long as I hope in Him.