World Youth Day 2005, Germany

"It was a celebration for what we believed in – a gathering of like minded individuals from across the globe….Even though for many of us our knowledge of the language was non-existent we still built friendships through song, dance and hand movements…. It’ll be the nights Haselstein and the peaceful serenity I felt at Marienfeld that will live on in my mind."

It all began on a blustery summer’s morning in Dublin airport. Our unorthodox route started with a bus to Belfast and then a flight to Birmingham for where we’d spend the first night. I can still remember the tentative conversations of that first evening as each of us, unknown to the other, started some lasting friendships. It was going to be two weeks into the unfamiliar, as for many of us this was our first World Youth Day. It can be really hard to appreciate “what it is all about” until you are there.

The following day we reached Haslestein, a small town in central Germany, which would be our home for the next five days. The Oblates had organised a preparation event in Hünfeld for all the youth groups. It was here where I started to realise the importance of what would proceed. There were Oblate youth groups from all over the world. Nearly every province had a representation. There were large groups from Australia, Poland, Italy, France and Germany. Even Azerbaijan, Ukraine and South Africa had sent groups. The over 3,500 gathering represented a cauldron mix of culture unlike I’d ever experienced. It was a celebration for what we believed in – a gathering of like minded individuals from across the globe.

While Hünfeld was a celebration of our faith, Haselstein was where we got to experience the local German life as it was five miles from Hünfeld and were we were staying with host families. Haselstein is a small rural town in the centre of Germany situated only a few miles the East West divide. Through food, drink and parties the group bonded with each other and the locals. Friendships and romances were formed within and between the different groups that. Even though for many of us our knowledge of the language was non-existent we still built friendships through song, dance and hand movements.

On our final day in Hünfeld we performed in front of all the Oblate groups from around the world. With an Irish dance and a British song we closed our time there and headed back to Haselstein for our last night before Cologne. The next day, as some were teary-eyed and others sore headed we left many new friends behind as our journey to Cologne took hold. My single most striking memory of this journey was the absolute number of buses from around Europe that were travelling to Cologne. Bus and bus sped along the autobahn, each originating differently but all with the same destination.

Cologne was packed. Differently accents, nationalities, flags reverberated through the air. The common theme was our youth; some of age - others of heart. The banks of the River Rhine crowded for the Pope’s arrival. You’d instantly find yourself beside a Brazilian or a Pole. On other times a familiar accent would draw you immediately into conversation with a local from Birmingham, Dublin or Cavan.

The following day we proceeded to Marienfeld, just outside Cologne, where the night vigil to the message to World Youth Day 2005 was celebrated.  We set up camp on a high place on the hill. In a semi circle shape around the white dome alter over a million other pilgrims set up their camps. “We have come to worship Him". Each of us explored our new surroundings. For as far as the eye could see flags from across the globe flew through the air. We stumbled upon our friends from Haselstein. They had made a special flag to commemorate our stay and World Youth Day 2005.

The Pope arrived that evening. A strange sense of importance and respect came upon me. Even at this stage it’s hard to explain and comprehended but you quickly realise the significance of the events that will unfold. As night sets in, candles are lit across the field. It’s a powerful sight to witness. In daylight the sheer mass of people can fade into a blur but with each person now represented by a light the crowds become clear. Our differences and similarity are now represented in this candle we hold. Our races, our nationalities, our flags and our languages are all forgotten. This candle represents each and everyone of us.  We are united in it. A half an hour later, with a quick blow, we are in the dark again and await mornings light.

As one, we celebrated mass with the Pope in the morning. Afterwards each of us departed for our long journey home. For us, the Oblate Youth group from UK and Ireland, we spent some time together in Mainz before another unorthodox journey home.

However, it’ll be the nights Haselstein and the peaceful serenity I felt at Marienfeld that will live on in my mind.