The Pilgrim Cross given to young people of the world by Pope John Paul II 17 years ago provided Smoky Lake youth the opportunity to share the unity of their Christian faith.

The 14-foot wooden cross, showing the wear of having been touched by millions of young people on nearly every continent, was carried into Our Lady of The Atonement Catholic Church last week as part of a Canadian-wide journey. This is a build-up to World Youth Day in Toronto next year when up to a million are expected to gather.

A full church greeted the arrival of the cross which earlier in the day had stopped at other churches enroute from Edmonton. Because of its size, the cross was brought to Smoky Lake in two pieces. Assembled at the entrance to the church, it was carried up the main aisle by seven young people to the sanctuary with the official Youth Day flag.

Kevin Fleming conducted the event and remarked it unexpectedly had a Biblical twist.

Depictions of Jesus' journey to Calvary align the walls of the church, they are called the 14 Stations of the Cross. The third station depicts Jesus falling for the first time.

"It was kind of unreal," says Fleming. "As they were carrying the cross into the church they stumbled and fell, just like one of the stations had become reality."

Musicians from John Paul II Bible School at Radway provided music and led the hymn singing. Anita Au, who attended World Youth Day in Rome spoke about her experiences.

The Cross, as a sign of universal Christianity and the Catholic Church, has been around the world. With World Youth Day in Toronto next July, it is travelling across the country visiting each diocese and as many parishes as possible.

In Edmonton thousands of young people gathered at Skyreach Centre, named the "GodiseumRally" for the day to echo the theme of Youth World Day, "Come as you are...go make a difference." The general theme for the event is "You are the salt of the earth...the Light of the World."

Pope John Paul II began World Youth Days in 1984 urging the young of the world to go on a pilgrimage. It has been held every two years since in Rome, Argentina, Poland, Denver, Colorado, Manila, Paris, back to Rome, and now Toronto.

In Paris, planners had expected 500,000 young people, nearly two million arrived.

People of all faiths participate in the event.

"Thank God for the World Youth Days!" says Pope John Paul. "Thanks be to God for all the young people who have been involved in them. Many of them are now adults who continue to live their faith in their homes and work places."

A pilgrimage is an ancient symbol of Christian life, proceeding from a mystery, God, on the way to a mystery, God.

St. Thomas More wrote of pilgrimages: "There is never a pilgrim who returns home without one less prejudice and one new idea."

More can be learned about World Youth Day 2002 at their website www.wyd2002.org.

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