By Biwa Kwan from PROJECTeye

For those not already in Barangaroo for the opening mass, braving the mass exodus of tired but nevertheless cheerful pilgrims for the post-mass concert was a daunting task.

BLOGS: Project Eye youth reflections

IN PICTURES: WYD opening mass

Streams of pilgrims exiting the venue delayed the program by half an hour as the number of pilgrims dwindled from 150,000 to 45,000.

The revelers that remained did not let that deter them from having a good time.

Prepared to dance the night away, a selection of well known pop songs re-energised weary pilgrims.

"My feet are tired and I am hungry," admitted Vietnamese pilgrim, 25 year old, Kijen Van Frinhone.

His friend , 27 year old Hoang Ha, chimed in, "It was beautiful, a good place to meet new friends and get [phone] numbers."

"It's more than just fun," added 29 year old, Dong-Kinh Tran.

"It's the getting together, it's like a big family, the Church gets to see how people from all over the world live their faith and it is interesting to see and it is inspiring to me. So that is what I love about it."

Pop songs and hymns got people chanting 'Aussie Aussie Aussie', starting a conga line, disco dancing, doing the jitterbug, huddling, singing along, with flags swaying in time to the movement of the crowd.

The celebratory and communal atmosphere climaxed with the emotionally charged singing of 'Hallelujah' and headline performances by Guy Sebastian.

The pilgrims watched still with awe at the display of fireworks, tap dancers, fire twirlers, performers wielding grinders before whipping out cameras and giving appreciative hoots and whistles.

Mass was 'life-changing'

For 16 year old Sydneysider, Bethany Hahesy, her first World Youth Day opening mass and concert was life-changing.

"It was the best experience ever and it will stay with me forever."

"The entertainment was great, everyone was just so respectful and everyone was just so nice. Everybody is interacting. You just go up and talk to one another."

"World Youth Day has already start and now we finally feel it," said 24 year old Polish pilgrim, Marta Marcinkow.

"It's really like everyone with happiness, singing and the flags and just showing the happiness coming from faith all together, it's cool."

For 18 year old Canadian pilgrim, Jenny Ritter, the atmosphere of the opening mass and post-concert was particularly remarkable.

"You feel something in the air," she said.

"I've been to concerts and it's a different feeling. We're connecting with each other. It's not so much the music and the band. We're here for the people."

Police presence and St John's Ambulance paramedics patrolled the area on foot and by bike without any incidents occurring.

"Even there are so many people there are never any problems," said veteran World Youth Day attendee, Dong-Kinh Tran.

"I have never experienced, in all the five time events, people arguing or anything. It's really nice. Everyone is so positive."

ProjectEye is a content partner for SBS providing critical news coverage of WYD08 from a youth perspective.
Source: Project Eye