Justin Faehrmann, 24, Asheligh Green, 24, and Laura McAlister, 27. Picture: Hollie Adams
First published in The Australian on 19 July 2016.
In the Middle Ages, Catholic pilgrims donned leather sandals and headed to the Holy Land, Santiago de Compostela and other sacred sites in a rite of passage bringing them closer to their faith.
Centuries on, they’re continuing the tradition with a contemporary twist, clutching Havaianas, iPhones and international air tickets as they head to Cracow, Poland, for World Youth Day, which kicks off next week.
More than 2.5 million young Catholics will attend the event — the largest in the Catholic Church’s international calendar — including a contingent of more than 3000 from Australia.
“It feels like no one’s left in town,” Ashleigh Green, 24, said as she prepared to head to Europe.
Ms Green, who studies social work in Ray Haven on the NSW central coast, will meet six members of her church for a week-long tour of Germany before joining more than 230 parishioners from the Broken Bay diocese.
Other Sydneysiders Laura McAlister of East Killara and Justin Faehrmann of North Strathfield also left at the weekend for the pilgrimage, which culminates in an all-night vigil and morning mass hosted by Pope Francis, attended by more than 2.5 million. Continue reading →