QUEENSLAND pilgrims to World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, leave today (Sunday) equipped with Australian flags presented to them by two Queensland senators on July 8.
Aaron Minton, 23, from Mary MacKillop parish, Birkdale, and Tanya Purcell, 21, from St Bernard’s parish, Upper Mt Gravatt, were presented with the flags in Brisbane by Queensland senator Ron Boswell from the National Party and Senator John Hogg from the Labor Party.
The Australian flags will join a parade of flags at Toronto’s Downsview Park where Pope John Paul II will celebrate Mass on July 28 before an estimated crowd of 1.5 million.
More than 1300 young Australians will gather in Toronto for the 17th WYD celebrations.
The Queensland contingent is made up of 42 pilgrims from Brisbane, six from Rockhampton and three from both the Townsville and Toowoomba dioceses.
Aaron, who is a member of the Queensland WYD organising committee, said he was going to Canada to experience the multicultural diversity of his faith.
‘I’m looking forward to spending time with people from other nations to see how they celebrate their faith and I want to learn from them,’ he said.
Tanya said she had been touched by Jesus during her life.
‘Jesus has touched so many lives around the world,’ she said.
‘And for me, going to WYD means seeing people from around the world who have had similar experiences as me.’
Tanya added through her association with various youth groups, she had become aware of Jesus’ blessings in her life.
Aaron will fly out a little earlier with Tanya and the pair will spend four days in Vancouver before joining the Queensland pilgrims on July 14.
