by Antonina Zielinska

Less than a week before World Youth Day pilgrims from the Brooklyn Diocese boarded planes for Spain, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano met with them and celebrated a sending off Mass at Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston.

“Today we begin our spiritual journey,” Bishop DiMarzio told the pilgrims during the Mass.

The largest number of pilgrims from the United States ever to attend the event is expected to join the pope for World Youth Day 2011. The Diocese of Brooklyn, with about 600 representatives, will be the largest delegation representing the United States.

Bishop DiMarzio will partake in the World Youth Day festivities along with Bishop Caggiano, and Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros.

Father Gerard Sauer, diocesan director of pilgrimages, and Paul Morisi, diocesan coordinator of adolescent and young adult faith formation, worked with Regina Tours to organize the pilgrimage.  Costing $1.1 million, the pilgrimage required months of fund-raising and the generosity of many organizations and individuals. The diocesan Alive in Hope Foundation donated partial scholarships for about 80 pilgrims and 12 seminarians. Organizations like the Knights of Columbus, local businesses, parish committees, and parishioners helped with fund-raising efforts led by the pilgrims. When the price unexpectedly increased due to fuel surcharges, Alive in Hope and Aid to the Church in Need each contributed $40,000 to offset costs.

The group representing the diocese will include priests, seminarians, youth ministers, religious, and young people from throughout the two boroughs. Pilgrims range from those who are going on their first World Youth Day and those who have gone to nearly all the World Youth Days ever organized. It consists of new immigrants, some of whom struggled to the very last days before the trip to obtain a visa to Spain, and those whose families have been in this country for generations.

The diversity of the group will be intensified in Spain as the pilgrims meet youth from all over the world.

Bishop DiMarzio stressed the importance of strengthening friendship and foraging new ones while on the pilgrimage.

“You are going to be with other young people who came to World Youth Day, not only to be with the pope, but to grow in faith,” he said.

Brendan and Eileen Poolger, from St. Patrick parish, Bay Ridge, came to the Mass, as did many parents, to support their child.  They said they hope the pilgrimage will bring their daughter, Katie, closer to the Catholic faith by exposing her to a youthful generation of believers.

“I think it will be nice to see the camaraderie among the young people,” said Brendan Poolger.  “It will be nice for them to see thousands and thousands of young people together.”

Kathleen Slattery, also from St. Patrick, said she has a similar hope for her daughter, Eilish, who will follow the example of her two older sisters and partake in the World Youth Day festivities. She said her oldest daughter came back from the pilgrimage energized with renewed faith.

“She was full of spirit and it helped her regain her faith,” she said.

In order to help the pilgrims on their spiritual journey, mentors will accompany them on the pilgrimage.

Seminarian Edwin Perez, will join the group from St. Joan of Arc parish, Jackson Heights.

“This is for me a big deal because we have the opportunity to share with the youth our faith,” he said. “When we spend time with young people we can know about their lives and God can work through us for these young people.”

Father John Amann, pastor of Holy Family, Canarsie, chose to bring his pilgrims to Rome before joining World Youth Day.

“I feel very excited and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to be with my parishioners in Rome and Spain,” he said.  “It’s a great opportunity for them to see where the pope lives and then going to Spain to see him with the youth from all around the world.”

Pilgrim Michelle Enriquez, from Transfiguration parish, Williamsburg, said the commissioning Mass helped her feel more enthusiastic about the pilgrimage. During the liturgy, various musicians played different types of music that included guitar playing and singing festive songs.

“Hearing different types of music made me realize that we are going to experience something different,” she said.

Sisters Lucille and Jennifer Urbano, from SS. Peter and Paul, Williamsburg, have already attended two World Youth Days and are convinced that this year they’ll have a new experience. However, they said there are some things that do not change.

“It’s amazing to see all the people with the same faith as you,” said Lucille.

“It’s empowering and humbling, especially when you get to see the pope,” Jennifer added. “When you see people traveling from poorer countries, you tend to be more grateful for what you have.”

World Youth Day will officially start on Aug. 16 and end Aug. 21 with an outdoors Mass celebrated by the pope.