The T&T contingent to the Church's World Youth Day 2005 left Piarco International Airport last Tuesday afternoon. Family, friends and well-wishers filled the airport's atrium to bid farewell to the more than 100 excited young Catholics representing this archdiocese in Köln ( Cologne), Germany. Leading the group are Episcopal Delegate for Youth, Sr Kathleen Joseph, OP, and diocesan priest Fr Christian Chambers. They return to Trinidad in two weeks, on August 23.

The last WYD was held in Canada in 2003, and attended by Pope John Paul II. The WYD 2005 celebrations are being held in Germany , homeland of new Pope Benedict XVI.

James McKenzie will represent Vision / Catholic News in Germany and will report on the experience on his return. For more information on WYD 2005, visit the official WYD website: www.wjt2005.de