Eight members of St. Bernadette Parish in Monroeville are attending World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, with the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

World Youth Day is a week-long series of events organized by the Catholic Church. The event is an invitation to youth from the Pope to celebrate the Catholic faith, with a theme based on a particular biblical verse.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has 616 pilgrims at World Youth Day --the largest group attending the event besides the group from the host diocese.

At World Youth Day from St. Bernadette are Shawn Clavora, Annie Shopes, Jim Redisill, Jessica Redisill, Rick Tusek, Kathy Tusek, Sarah Tusek and Michelle Tusek.

"We actually had a larger contingent," said Andre McCarville, an administrator at St. Bernadette, "but many couldn't go because they weren't old enough."

World Youth Day is for people between the ages of 16 and 35, McCarville said.

The eight travelers departed for Sydney last Friday and will return this Sunday.

World Youth Day events started with the opening Mass on Tuesday.

Catechesis has been offered since Wednesday, and will continue until this Friday. The catechetical processions are conducted in different languages to serve the variety of people attending from numerous countries.

Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Australia today (Thursday) and address the gathering. This will be his first appearance in Australia.

The Pope will also be present at an evening vigil this Saturday night and will celebrate the closing Mass on Sunday.

There are youth festival events each night "to get people in the same space," McCarville said.

One of the biggest parts of World Youth Day, he said, is interacting with people from different countries.

Throughout the week, participants share worship and praise and have chances to learn more about Catholicism, according to McCarville.

The St. Bernadette members at World Youth Day raised funds to earn money for travel expenses. They sold hoagies and chocolate, held a haunted house and did baby-sitting.

McCarville said one good thing about this event is that "there are no racial or ethnic boundaries to it.

"It's a beautiful thing to see everyone that is celebrating this together. It's wonderful to see people sacrifice to make a pilgrimage."