Through Pilgrim Eyes Taken from "The Record" Wednesday, 27 August 2008 Dane Ehrlich - St Francis Xavier Parish, Armadale What was my experience of WYD? To summarise such an important experience inevitably means leaving a lot out, however for me a summary is easy: WYD08 was the most profound and life-giving spiritual experience in my life so far.
I have always considered myself to have a strong faith, but the power of WYD for me was in changing myself rather than trying to change others. The most important spiritual developments that I have made personally are a new respect and appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and of the power of prayer to positively affect your life. I truly experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit during the entire WYD week but on a personal level the best experiences were from the Catechesis seminars I went to with my youth group. There, we met the universal Church and saw what a wonderful diversity of cultures can reach out to praise and worship our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. I feel that in a special way everyone who went to Sydney got to experience the faith of the Church in action and it is truly awesome. I encourage everyone, young or young at heart, to truly consider the call to pilgrimage from the Holy Father. Go to Madrid for the next WYD in 2011, it will change your life. Used with Permission Dane Erlich