Connecting with international Catholic teens and young adults on pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany was an "awesome" experience, say many recently returned archdiocesan parishioners.

"The highlight of the trip was meeting Catholic youth from all over the world, learning about differences and sharing our love for God," said Patrick Wong, 23, a parishioner at St. Bridget's Chinese Catholic Center in Los Angeles' Chinatown. He was among a group of over 35 young people led by Salesian Father Mel Trinidad.

Father Trinidad's group arrived the weekend before World Youth Day Aug. 16-21 to participate in "Days of Encounter" team-building service projects. Members of the L.A. Salesian group constructed ropes for a community obstacle course while others created a labyrinth at a retreat center. "I really enjoyed the Days of Encounter experience. World Youth Day was great because there was a spirit of hope," said Father Trinidad, currently the youth ministry coordinator of the west coast Salesian Province.

"The whole experience was uplifting," commented Peter Lee, 24, who led a group of twelve 18-24 year-olds from Holy Trinity Church in Los Angles. Besides seeing the new Pope, Lee said he enjoyed attending a catechesis session in Pulheim in which Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze counseled youth to listen to their parish elders and to reject abortion. The cardinal's talk, said Lee was followed by a standing ovation.

Michelle Tarronas, 18, a parishioner at St. Martha Church in Valinda, said it was "awesome" to hear both Cardinal Roger Mahony and Pope Benedict XVI speak at World Youth Day. Tarronas gave a witness talk on the need for global and personal healing following Cardinal Mahony's catechesis session on the Holy Eucharist.

Tarronas, a graduate of Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente who started nursing studies at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles this week, was among the thousands of people who flocked to the banks of the Rhine River to greet the Pope's barge as it docked at the Cologne city center. "I felt like I saw the whole world. It was an amazing overall experience."

Missionary of the Holy Spirit Father Lucio Villalobos, associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Oxnard accompanied 25 young people from his parish and said his group was greatly moved seeing Pope Benedict pass by on the river and also when they viewed him waving in the "papamobile" Aug. 18. "We were very close to him, perhaps three meters. We suddenly started crying --- we really felt the presence of God," said Father Villalobos.

Mike Schabert, 31, who led a group of 33 from Padre Serra Church in Camarillo, said it was intriguing to see the pope welcome the pilgrims. "He looked a bit overwhelmed but he didn't shy away from the experience. He exceeded my expectations with his welcoming smile," said Schabert, a religion teacher and campus minister at Santa Clara High School in Oxnard.

According to Schabert, the youth in his group were powerfully affected by the pilgrimage. "They saw the present and future of their faith in the faces of each other and it touched them in a deep way," said Schabert. Each of the students carried 10-12 parishioner prayer requests, which they prayed for during the pilgrimage.

Several of the 17 archdiocesan World Youth Day groups totaling more than 1,000 youth and chaperones took the opportunity to visit European holy sites before arriving in Cologne. Popular destinations included cathedrals in Paris, Frankfort and Vienna as well as holy sites in the Italian cities of Assisi, Rome and the Vatican.

World Youth Day pilgrims from Incarnation Church in Glendale, including 12 youth, traveled to Assisi and Rome before heading to Cologne. Incarnation parishioners Michael Daher, 16, and Joe Camp, 16, St. Francis High School senior and junior, respectively, were especially intrigued to see Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis.

"Highlights for me included seeing how beautiful Assisi was and seeing over one million youth in Cologne. It definitely strengthened my faith," said Daher. Camp observed how some Europeans they encountered were surprised to see people who were "authentically excited" about their faith.

Amanda Sarley, 17, a senior at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, said World Youth Day helped her to appreciate her faith in a new way. "I gained a deeper understanding of how many Catholics there are. It was very empowering," said Sarley. She also was impressed by the Pope's command of several languages. "He did a pretty good job of relating to youth," said Sarley.

Several World Youth Day pilgrims complimented the German people for their friendliness. "Overall, I was surprised how nice people were," said Camille Villanueva, 17, an Immaculate Heart High School senior and Incarnation parishioner who has already received e-mails from friends she met on the pilgrimage.

Many appreciated the hospitality extended to pilgrims following the Aug. 21 closing Mass at Marienfeld attended by an estimated one million worshippers. "Normal citizens opened their homes and offered pilgrims restrooms, cookies and drinks. Their hospitality taught me to try to be more giving in my daily life," said Patrick Wong of St. Bridget's Chinese Catholic Center.