IF you were fortunate enough to see any TV news coverage of the 20th World Youth Day in Cologne, it was probably of the final celebrations at Marienfeld.
It was here that we celebrated the vigil on the Saturday night and the closing Mass on the Sunday which marked the end of World Youth Day.
However, this was not my first visit to Marienfeld. The day before, I had travelled there, along with 100 other delegates from all over the world, for a choir rehearsal.
An avid chorister in Brisbane, I had been excited to read in my program about the possibility of being in a community choir to sing at the vigil and closing Mass.
Despite enormous difficulties in finding where I needed to sign up for participation (which required travelling to a different town) and having already missed the first scheduled rehearsal, I managed to get myself the required information.
Arriving at Marienfeld, I soon discovered that I was the only Australian delegate that was part of the community choir.
During a break from rehearsals, someone discovered that it was possible to go all the way up the man-made hill to the stage from which the celebrations would be conducted the following day.
As security was not yet in place, we were able to see and photograph the altar.
As we were leaving Marienfeld, the rain started to pour down.
Only eight hours before the earliest pilgrims arrived, this was a worrying development for both organisers and the many pilgrims who were preparing to sleep under the stars there the following night.
The next day dawned, and we arrived at Bonn station where shuttle buses were running to Marienfeld.
Grateful for my pass which allowed me to go straight to the head of the queue, we were soon on our way.
After a 2km brisk walk, I found the area that we had been allocated.
Others who had been also allocated this space had already got there before us, and so I began the task of trying to find us some space.
As I was the earliest Queenslander to arrive, I began this difficult task alone. Eventually I stood in place trying to protect this tiny bit of real estate. Without tarps or anything else to claim my territory, I held this space for over an hour and a half.
People continued to file in, and soon heard that there was no more room in our area. Inundated by 10 men from another country, I eventually lost the space I had been holding – though not without a fight!
As other Queenslanders arrived, we were able to find a little room, and camped there for the afternoon.
Participating in a well known but unofficial part of the proceedings, we were inundated with people wanting to swap things with us – be they little koalas, badges, hats, flags, or even the shirts off our backs.
As the Pope arrived for the vigil, everyone wanted to get a glimpse and were jostling for prime position.
The choir members were torn between wanting to rush around to see, and knowing that they were meant to stand still. This was particularly important as a television camera had been set up to display us on the large screen to the rest of the crowd.
But as night fell, a most beautiful and prayerful atmosphere fell over the crowed.
Together, in one voice though many tongues, we prayed together.
Led by the Pope, we prayed for Mary’s intercession and for peace in the world.
As millions of people shared the light of Christ with one another, we were encouraged to take that candle – symbolic of our experience of God in Germany – and to take it back to the churches and communities that we came from.
Braving the cold and neglecting any ideas of personal space, I achieved a more restful night than I had dared to think possible.
Having been woken bright and early in the morning by my fellow Queensland pilgrims, I made my way back through the crowd to the choir area.
Considering that a limited number of portable toilets had been servicing this huge crowd for the past 24 hours, we were understandably grateful when the choir conductor informed us that backstage personnel were allowing the choir (and nearby priests) to use the backstage flushing toilets.
Making the most of the opportunity, I therefore happened to be in the backstage area when it was announced over the loud speaker (in German of course) that the Pope had arrived and was about to come through!
Sure enough out of the corner of my eye I could see black limousines coming towards us. Passing no more than a metre in front of me, the Pope himself was indeed in the third of these vehicles.
Pausing and waving at the crowd of priests, choir members and backstage hands, he slowly went past our group.
Excited by the encounter, we returned to our choir area.
As we sang, we continued to watch the nearest big screen which was showing us pictures of the Pope coming down one of the aisles in the crowd during the entrance hymn. Realising that it was indeed the aisle nearest us, we were able to see the Holy Father close up once more.
Having spotted the Pope, we were ready to move into the celebration of the Mass. The music really added a special dimension – and it was an awesome experience.
Singing praises to God in German, Polish, Russian, Japanese, English, Italian, Russian and Spanish alongside those for whom it was their native tongue, was very special.
Indeed the incorporation of various languages and cultures throughout the Mass spoke to me of our truly universal Catholic faith.
Pope Benedict XVI’s homily gave us much food for thought and great encouragement as young people.
Speaking of the joy that comes from Christ, the Pope exalted us to share our passion and joy as we went forth from that place.
We were challenged to help people discover the “true star which points out the way to us: Jesus Christ!”
Seeing the Pope was very special, but it was only a part of the Marienfeld experience – and only a part of the World Youth Day experience.
As one Queensland priest said, it was special to celebrate Mass together with Pope Benedict XVI in the same way as it is special when the whole family gathers together for a celebration.
As head of our Catholic family, we recognise the role he plays in drawing us together and leading us under the headship of Christ.
The announcement of Sydney as the host city of World Youth Day 2008 was very much welcomed by the crowd.
As reporters descended on anyone Australian, we finished the Mass with an animation that could not even be extinguished by our exhaustion, or the many significant difficulties we had in leaving Marienfeld.
And so ended the 20th World Youth Day. It will forever live on in the memories of those who experienced it.
