St. Mary’s student returns from journey to Australia

LYNN – She was 10,000 miles from home, jet-lagged from a 20-hour flight and ready to go home, sleep in her own bed and see her family again.But all St. Mary’s High School senior Alyssa Trinidad had to do was think of the unique and spiritual experience that she was about to have and the energy rushed back in to her body.Trinidad, along with four other parishioners from the St. John the Evangelist Church in her hometown of Winthrop, made a pilgrimage to Sydney, Australia in July to attend the World Youth Day.The event brings Catholic youth from around the world together to share in their spirituality and witness a Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI.Trinidad and Malden Catholic senior George Legner were at St. Mary’s Friday morning to tell of their experience.”There were young people everywhere, singing and chanting in their own languages, it was truly amazing,” Trinidad said. “It was incredible to see so many nations of people being proud of their religion and their ethnicity.”The week-and-a-half trip was both educational and spiritual for the group, culminating with the Pope’s Mass in downtown Sydney on World Youth Day.Pope Benedict arrived on a yacht in Sydney’s downtown harbor, and took a tour of the city in the Pope mobile. Legner described seeing the Pope as an “amazing experience,” and said the cheering was so loud it was like nothing he has ever experienced.”When we first saw the Pope it was crazy. We were close, too. It wasn’t like he was just a dot, we were as close as you would be to your pastor on Sunday mass,” he said. “Every single one of the half-million people in attendance was touched by his spirit. Young and old, American or Aussie, every single moment of the entire experience was moving.”Trinidad made it a point to see a special Mother Theresa exhibit in Sydney, which featured the late nun’s writings and clothing.”The Mother Theresa exhibit was so inspiring,” she said. “To look at her clothes and read her letters, you really humble yourself just thinking about all that she did and what you yourself can do to change the world.”Both students are Eucharistic ministers at their church and are committed to living a life of Catholicism. Trinidad said seeing a city of 500,000 people all worshiping and singing together was one of the highlights of the trip, and something they will never forget.”It is weird to walk outside and not hear people singing hymns (when they returned to America),” said Legner. “It was just amazing to hear that beautiful music all day.”Trinidad added that meeting with people her own age was also inspiring coming from a country where more and more teenagers are apathetic to their religion.”Too many Catholics my age are not passionate about their religion, so it was nice to see so many people who were,” she said. “The whole experience was just chaotic in a good way. We have anticipated this for two years, but nothing we did could prepare us for this trip. If I hadn’t kept a journal I would probably forget everything I did because we just did so much.”