PHOTO: COURTESY OF SEAN JESUDASON

I had been nominated to represent Melbourne on the International Liturgy Group (ILG). This group, comprising 140 young men and women from 70 different nations, represented the youth of the world at the WYD liturgies, as well as being the inner cenacle of prayer connecting the Universal Church spiritually during that wonderful week.

My specific responsibilities in this group were as a flag-bearer for the Opening Mass, to be part of the welcome for His Holiness at his arrival, and to give testimony at the evening Vigil. Our preparations were both spiritual and physical. Every moment was a spiritual encounter that reaffirmed our faith and our love for the One, True, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, whether through the friendships made across continents, walking through Sydney streets with banners and flags proclaiming the Word, or in conversations with curious non-believers in buses and trains and even tired yet friendly police officers.

On ‘Super Thursday’ we were all in great excitement to welcome our Chief Shepherd. Unplanned, 16 of us from the ILG who were part of the stage welcome were suddenly called to sit right behind the Holy Father’s chair.

As the Sydney 2000 docked at Barangaroo, there was uproar, and then the small but glorious figure of the Holy Father was ascending the stage. It was an intense moment and the first feeling that came over was a sense of peace and calm: for all the security, and all the hue and cry, here was a man of great holiness, of utmost humility. He seemed to be enjoying every moment but at every wave and every glance he directed our hearts to Jesus.

As His Holiness sat down to address us, it was though here was a great-granddad telling us what it means to live and to be a Catholic today, in the most loving way. After the blessing to the 150,000 or more gathered, the Holy Father unexpectedly came round to the back of the stage and thanked the choir and greeted the conductor. Then he came up to us and thanked us. I reached out to shake his hand, and His holiness just held my hand in a tight grip for a few seconds, just simply saying thank you. All I could say was “God Bless you Holy Father”. His smile was the biggest blessing for the 16 of us. It was hard to contain our joy and happiness and it was as though we were just anointed to be Apostles to the ends of the earth.

My life as a cradle Catholic has not been easy, and I have faced many pitfalls personally and challenges in my living environment, having come to Australia almost three and a half years ago from Sri Lanka. The prevalent atheist questioning and at times weary local Church had not always been fertile ground for my faith to flourish.

However, World Youth Day, my experience with the ILG and, most importantly, being touched and inspired by our Holy Father, make me want to shout from the mountaintops in witness to the beauty of being Catholic. And even more to dedicate more of my life in whichever form the Lord has planned for me to the work of building His Kingdom.