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As hundreds of thousands of Catholics in more than 170 countries gear up for World Youth Day in Madrid, youth at a Rensselaer parish continue dreaming up fundraisers to finance their August trip to Spain for the event.

For two years, members of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph in Rensselaer have collected pocket change, sold candy and hosted dinners. They will soon sell Yankees tickets and hold a fundraising night at a popular burger joint.

So far, they've only collected almost $5,000 - more than $15,000 short of covering the cost of sending 12 people on a 12-day trip with stops in Barcelona, Spain; Lourdes, France; and Zaragoza, Spain.

Once in Madrid, the young Catholics will save money on lodging by staying with a host family for six nights.

Though financial obstacles have prevented other parishes in the Albany Diocese from making plans to attend this year's World Youth Day, members of the Rensselaer group say the experience will be well worth any expenses.

"Seeing two million people gathered together - it's just historic," said Linda Remington, the parish's faith formation director.

Mrs. Remington has attended two other World Youth Days with the charismatic Blessed Pope John Paul II: "It was like he was speaking to you instead of speaking to a group," she said.

World Youth Day began in 1986 to inspire youth and encourage them to live the teachings of Christ. Attendees fill their week with events presided over by the pope, catechesis with bishops from around the world, Stations of the Cross, a youth prayer vigil and cultural activities representing the host city.

On the penultimate day this year, pilgrims will travel across Madrid to Cuatro Vientos for a vigil with Pope Benedict XVI and an outdoor sleepover.

Casey Frankoski, a sophomore at Columbia High School in East Greenbush, is excited about sleeping outside and seeing Pope Benedict.

"He's a pope of the world," she said. "It would just be a great honor. It would bring me closer to God."

Casey has studied Spanish language and culture for four years and hopes to converse with the locals.

Her decision to attend with four other teenagers wasn't easy. "I was nervous about going alone," she said about an international trip without her parents.

But she realized it was a unique opportunity "to go to a different country at such a young age."

Indeed, the international camaraderie at World Youth Day events inspires John White, an adult chaperone, who noted that American flags displayed by youth he chaperoned in previous years spurred many conversations.

"I like to expose the kids to [the fact] that they're not the only ones celebrating their Catholic heritage," said Mr. White, a four-time attendee.

His favorite World Youth Day was in Toronto in 2002, when Pope John Paul II's helicopter landed "right behind" them and the pontiff who would someday be beatified stood within feet of him. In 2000, Mr. White visited the Shroud of Turin during its public exposition in Rome.

"Every one has its uniqueness," he said of the World Youth Day gatherings, recalling his pilgrimages across hot pavement in Toronto and through cornfields in Cologne, Germany. "You don't know until you get there."

Casey heard her group might visit a beach during this year's trip, so the only item she knows she'll pack is a bathing suit.

For Mrs. Remington, the most fulfilling aspect transcends the event's locale: "Being in the presence of the Holy Father - it's just life-altering, life-changing."

(For information or to register before June 30, visit www. madrid11.com.)[[In-content Ad]]

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