Photos: L. Mauel, P. Schlechtriemen, E. Bachner

Gisela Weber rscj, in charge of the ?demipensionnat? at Bonn-Pützchen (St. Adelheid) sent an interesting report on the life during World Youth Day at her school:

"On August 12th 2005 and the following days 320 volunteers from 39 countries moved into the main building. These teams of volunteers had different tasks to perform during the World Youth day, for example to distribute food and to keep order at meetings. They left early every day (?after a delicious breakfast?, as they said) and returned only late in the evening.

On August 18th a busload of Spanish pilgrims arrived. It was a joy to look into their vivid, expectant faces and to hear them say that they wanted to pray and to sing and to see the Pope.

I was specially impressed by my short conversations with some. I talked to a young Frenchman who said that he had come by himself, because his friend had become sick. When I asked him about his expectations he said that he was a student in Paris. At the university life was stressful and there was hardly any time for reflection. Therefore he had planned this week for himself and hoped to find time to meditate and to share his faith with others. This would surely strengthen him in his every day life. Some young people from Chechnya told me that they had expected the Germans to be very reserved, but that this was not true according to their own experiences - they had met so much kindness and helpfulness that they felt completely overwhelmed."

For more pictures and information, you can visit here

(the headings are: - Preparations; The first volunteers arrive; Enthusiasm (Pictures from Bonn); More pictures from  Hofgartenwiese in Central Bonn; Good bye.)