Justin and his two year old daughter.

Justin Lynch is married with 3 children aged 2, 4 and 5.  He lives in Brisbane and works from home in his family internet business. Justin attended WYD2000 in Rome and will be live blogging for ebenedict.org at WYD08.

World Youth Day in Rome in 2000 when I was 24, was one of the most pivotal moments in my faith life and is still a hugely inspiring memory to this day.

I sometimes find it hard to explain to those who haven't been to WYD why it had such an impact. Unlike a holiday, there were no flash hotels or meals. Unlike a retreat, there was little seclusion and serenity. Unlike a youth festival, there was no carefully targeted message pitched in audiovisual format every minute of the day. We were pilgrims not tourists. Maybe it was because sometimes it is difficult experiences that are so rewarding.

In an increasingly materialistic and skeptical world the Pope at WYD was a great sign of counter-cultural hope and encouragement to youth. He challenged us to live chastity before marriage and not to accept contraception in marriage. He showed us that there is so much more to life than what most youth are offered.

My first WYD was in the year of the Great Jubilee in Rome 2000 with 2 million other pilgrims. Rome was at times very difficult and trying. The infrastructure was tested, as were many personalities, but it was thoroughly rewarding. The Pope's welcome saw 600,000 young pilgrims fill St Peters Square right down to the Tiber River – standing room only. The feeling was electric. The young people were partying in the streets, not high on alcohol or drugs but high on the love of God.

One of the week's highlights was the pilgrimage walking across Rome to St Peters Basilica, which started with Mass in the full summer sun and heat at Circus Maximus. On the way up to St Peters from the river a haunting music was playing, which contained excerpts from the prayers pilgrims were praying along the way. I've visited St Peters a number of times and normally it is full of gawking tourists, but during the WYD pilgrimage it was very different. All week a constant stream of young pilgrims filed through the Holy door (only opened for the Jubilee year) in silence and in prayer. Inside many could be seen on their knees in prayer and even in tears, overcome with the emotion of the prayerful moment. This is a moment I will never forget.

For me WYD embodies the universality of the church. The nations of the world come together through their youth to celebrate our Catholic faith in Christ. It was at the closing Mass in Rome (attended by 2.2 million people) that I realised that I have more in common with my fellow pilgrim next to me, who doesn't speak my language, than I do to my neighbours back home who are spiritually on another wave length or planet! The Pope's words that I took away from that Mass were him paraphrasing Saint Catherine of Siena: 'If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!', along with the theme of that year’s WYD “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us ”Jn 1:14 – or Emmanuel.

Many ask why it is called World Youth Day when it goes for a week. Originally it was just a day, but don't you wish something great like your birthday went for a week instead?

In Rome 2000, it was invigorating to see so many people gathered simply for their love of Jesus and support for the Pope. At WYD08 in Sydney it will no doubt be inspiring to see so many other Catholics living their extraordinary faith in their ordinary lives. In Sydney we will be bringing the witness of Christ and his message of love to the Streets of Sydney. Bring it on!