This July pilgrims from around the world will gather in Sydney, Australia, to celebrate World Youth Day. Despite the distance and cost, some Arkansans will be making the journey as well.
College students Kerry Evans, Travis Gunther and Brittany Shachmut, all of Conway, and Lauren Daly of St. Louis plan to attend WYD events, although their travel plans and partners vary. However, their reason for attending is the same — to learn about their faith and grow spiritually.
“This trip will be a unique experience of modern pilgrimage,” Evans said. “It will be interesting to be there with so many other Catholics.”
According to the 2008 World Youth Day Web site, the event was “established by Pope John Paul II in 1986 as an annual event to reach out to the youth of the world.”
For these four students, their trips to WYD will be a way to live their faith and experience Christ with fellow Catholics from across the globe. In addition, three of the students will be gaining college credit for their endeavor. » Read the rest of the entry..