On the 11th of August 2005 a group of 50 young people including Fr Paul and myself (Nomawetu) assembled at the Joburg Airport Chapel where we had a farewell Mass. Fr John Finlayson presided at the Table of the Lord. We were joined by our Families and friends. Among the group were two young people who represented the Witbank Diocese. We left South Africa at about 19:55 p.m.

We arrived in Germany, Burghaum, which falls under the Diocese of Fulda, on Friday the 12th August. The mayor of Burghaum welcomed us. From this day until 15th August we stayed with different families experiencing the German way of life. Our stay there had been arranged by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. On Saturday the 13th August we celebrated our first Mass at the local parish Church. We then moved to the playground and lakeside where we joined the Ecumenical Service which was followed by a cultural festival. At about 16:00 pm we all went to the Huenfeld monastery where we gathered with all the countries that were being hosted by the Oblates. The 15 or more countries, which were involved, presented items depicting their cultures. Our South African Youth groups presented a slide-show and a number of song and dance items, concluding with the National Anthem.

On Sunday the 14th August we went to the Cathedral of Fulda where we celebrated the Eucharist in the Square. Rain was pouring on this day from the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration to the end. After the celebration we had a youth festival where different groups performed. This was interesting because amongst those who performed were Franciscan monks. On Monday morning the 15th August we had a prayer service and breakfast with all our host families and exchanged gifts at Don Bosco hall. We left Burghaum having bonded with our families even though we had used dictionaries to communicate.

We arrived in Cologne at about 16:00 pm and stayed in Solingen in a gymnasium. During evening prayer we were welcomed to Cologne. On the 16th August, with Cardinal Napier as our main celebrant, we gathered and celebrated Mass, praying for South Africans living with HIV/AIDS. The dioceses represented were Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Limpopo, Mariannhill, Oudtshoorn, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg Umzimkhulu, Vryheid and Witbank.

On the 17th August we had Catechesis i.e. a talk by Cardinal Napier in St Clemens, Solingen. The Cardinal posed a few questions to us:

1. Which star are we following?
2. Who are we searching for?
3. What is the most important question that dominates our future/about ourselves?
4. How will this pilgrimage make a difference in our lives; in our search?

Here are few things that he said:

• Search for God who gives meaning in life.
• Our search for Jesus should be the conviction of our lives not to be based on the fear of diseases.
• We need to live and lead the words of “Follow me” by example.
• It is over to us to spread the Gospel and Jesus will lead.
• Those who belong to Jesus have learnt how to apply the gift of self-control for themselves and have sacrificed the human behaviour with Christ. Only change of heart, which leads to a change of behaviour can bring about the cure of HIV and AIDS.

He then challenged us to:

• “Go and live the Gospel and say follow me, I am living the Gospel”
• “Go and take your place in your diocese, your responsibility and let others know.”

18th August:
We went to the Dom, Cologne Cathedral. Like the three wise people we followed the star, we prayed from the train station to the Dom. Different parishes in our group took turns in the “little stations” that we made. In the evening we had a welcoming mass by the Pope and his first appearance to the Youth of the World.

19th August:
We prayed the Stations of the Cross in different parishes and then we all walked to the stadium to gather and pray the last station together as different, countries. After this we had a Youth Festival for all the countries that stayed in Solingen.

20th August:
We left Solingen for Cologne where we went to Marienfield. On this evening we had a vigil with Pope Benedict. During the vigil we had a reading, psalm and the Pope gave the homily. During his homily he said: “The happiness we are seeking, the happiness we have a right to enjoy has a name and a face. It is “Jesus of Nazareth hidden in the Eucharist”. He went on saying Christ takes nothing from us that is beautiful and great but brings everything to perfection for the glory of God. Christ can only do this when we are open to change. We must change ourselves for the kingdom of God. Only the encounter with Jesus will allow us to experience in our hearts the joy of his living presence and enable us to be witness to it before others.” He also encouraged us to “commit ourselves without reserve to serving Christ whatever the cost.” He concluded: “Let ourselves be surprised by Christ, let him have the right of speech. Open the doors of your freedom to his merciful love.”

21st August:
We attended the last WYD Mass by Pope Benedict XIV at Marienfield, starting at 10h00 a.m. We left during the intercessions because we had to walk for 4 hours to the buses that would ferry us to the airport. We arrived at 17h40 for the plane that was to leave at 17h50, and luckily we were given another 20 minutes to fetch our luggage from the airport’s storeroom (we had booked them in the day before). At 18h20 we left Germany for Paris. We arrived at 19h20 and waited to board the next plane to South Africa at 23h15. We arrived in South Africa on the 22nd August at 10h00 a.m.

It was wonderful!