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Cedar Park/North Austin Youths Going to Australia - With Your Help!
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On July 9th, 2008, a group of 10 pilgrims, ages 18 to 35, will begin a journey from Cedar Park, just north of Austin, Texas to Sydney, Australia. They will attend World Youth Day, an international conference for young adults, and return on July 23rd, 2008.
SMM WYD PILGRIMS 6/20/2008: Eduardo, Angeles, Jean, Natalie, Patrick, Tony, Dania, John, Iris, and, of course, Kanga!
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Dania
I have no idea how one can be so blind but I was blind at some point. The closer we get to this day, the more excited I am, but unfortunately the closer we get the more realize we need more money and the harder it’s been to try to find sponsors and our fund raisers have been a success but never enough to raise the money we need . I know things in life are not easy, believe me nothing for me has ever been easy. I am the oldest of my siblings and I am the 2nd bread winner in my family. My mother and I work hard to keep our family up and she prays for this pilgrimage to be a reality for me like you wouldn’t believe since she can’t help me with money. I want to be part of this; I want to be there for Vigils and would love to be able to experience what all this time I have been dreaming about the "Holy Spirit". I have been strong out all of my life and now I break down in tears any time I think about going since this is so special to me. I have so much to tell you and so much I wish you knew about me so you could see how real this is. I guess just like everything that has to do with GOD is just too difficult to explain and understand for some reason.... I would love to go but at the end it’s always God’s decision and he must have put you in my path for a reason. God Bless you. Donate here.
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Lalo (Eddy)
When I was told that there was an opportunity to attend a World Youth Day (WYD) in Australia, my first intuition was that only people that were involved with the Bishop of Austin could probably get a chance to go. Later, my mother received a call from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cedar Park, TX inviting me to join a group of pilgrims that were planning on attending WYD; I was excited and puzzled at the same time, but I made a commitment to pursue a goal that will give me an opportunity of a lifetime.
My objective is to fulfill a dream of seeing the Pope in person, and also gather with thousands of young adults that share the same faith. This will be my first time attending a massive event that will blend people from all over the world. I ask for your help in making this dream come true. In return I will make a pledge to live the experience to the max and return with stronger faith to help my community and today's youth become closer to the path of God. Donate here.
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Iris
We really want to go. This trip means a lot to each one of us. We believe it will be an experience of a lifetime and we will learn a lot from it. We know that making this trip will change our lives and the way we look at things. It will change the way we think and our perspective in so many ways. We will be able to get to know ourselves better, to meet people from different countries and cultures all gathered in one place. We will be able to grow in our faith and learn more from others around us. We will enjoy being surrounded by excitement and brotherhood.
We will have a lot to bring back with us and share with our friends, family and comunities. With our church and our groups. Only God's will, the good heart of our comunity and our friends will help us get there. We thank you in advance for your time and attention. Thank you so much and God bless you! Donate here.
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Tony
The way or how this trip is going to change me as a person, more spiritual, more motivation in our Catholic religion, seeing thousands maybe millions of catholic youth sharing the same faith. Seeing & believing that God is almighty, is wonderful. Coming back from Sydney, sharing our experiences with other youth members of the catholic faith. Open my heart, sharing my thoughts. God is love. I've been in a different youth group for 4 years, I've been a youth leader for 2 years for a Christian family movement. I've also done speaking about my own personal experience, how God has changed me. I've made sacrifices, to attend WYD meetings & helping with fundraising . I didn't attend college classes this summer....but!, I sure did get a job.
I've been trying my best to help this youth group out I think this group has been through some hard times, even tho this group has put alot of heart into it. We've grown as a group!. What I'm asking is for help! Please help our group! God bless. Donate here.
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Jean
I am a very driven individual and a current student at Austin Community College with hopes of attending the University Of Texas at Austin in order to complete the Architectural Engineering program. I have developed leadership skills as a result of having partaken in raising funds to pay for the trip to World Youth Day that is going to be celebrated in Sydney, Australia this next July.
I have become a stronger person with more resolve and a more positive attitude towards life. I have learned to take initiative to fix the problems I had at hand and to channel frustration into positive energy and I hope to continue in this path of self-actualization so that when I finally graduate into the real world I am able to face difficulties with more serenity and make myself able to survive any situation that requires a test of character.
By going to World Youth day I expect to be come even stronger spiritually as well as practically, since at 21, I will be one of the oldest members of the group and have become a central character in the day-to-day activities of the group.
Sadly, the amount of money to make the pilgrimage to Australia is very large and the group is still about four-fifths short of the goal. It would mean the world to me if I were to get sponsored and given this great opportunity to make myself a leader in a world of followers and bring a piece of the Holy Spirit I’ll receive in World Youth Day to the people of my community. Donate here.
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Patrick (Leader)
After having started a group to go to World Youth Day last fall, I am continuing to work to help everyone in the group prepare spiritually and financially for this life changing event. I personally found the last World Youth Day, which took place in Cologne, Germany in 2005, to be amazing! I would love to be again in the heart of the young church, among such company as Pope Benedict himself! Either way, I pray for all those who will participate in this joy.
Our group is still in significant need financially; so any help in this area would be much appreciated. Without it, I don't know how we can reach our goal of joining hundreds of thousands of young people from virtually every country in the world for a week of prayer, praise, spiritual and cultural education, and amazing brotherly solidarity! May God be with anyone who reads this. I am sincerely grateful for your time, prayers, and any financial help you may be able to offer. Donate here.
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| John Donna (Sponsor)
I was at World Youth Day, 2002 in Toronto, Canada; it was a wonderful experience for my son and the other young pilgrims. Because this WYD is so expensive and far away, it was viewed by many youth and their parents as an impossible dream. I hope to prove that nothing is impossible with the Lord’s help, faith, and the support of your neighbor.
These young people are amazing. They have persisted through disappointments and discouraging results. They have attempted a very difficult goal, one that was turned down by people with more means, and continued reaching for their goal. I sincerely hope you will consider donating to this pilgrimage, in the old tradition of providing for others in their spiritual pursuits as a way of aiding ourselves in ours. Thank you for your interest and support.
 May God open our hearts to the possibilities in and wonders of our lives. 
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