RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (UCAN) -- The leader of the Pakistani contingent to the World Youth Day (WYD) celebration in Australia is excited to be going next month but still finds coordinating with the other delegates a major challenge.

"We have not seen or discussed anything in person. Perhaps plans will be made while standing in the airport terminal," Perwaiz Roderick, executive secretary of the National Catholic Youth Commission, told UCA News at his office in Rawalpindi, which neighbors Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Roderick, 43, is one of 14 Catholics from all dioceses in Pakistan who will represent the local church at the WYD 2008 events scheduled July 15-20 in Sydney. The group plans to leave Pakistan on July 13 and return on July 21.

"Active participation in youth activities and proficiency in English language were the basic criteria for recommendations by local bishops and diocesan youth directors," Roderick explained.

The delegation is expected to perform a dance on the theme "Holy Spirit" on July 16, the day set aside for cultural performances by Asian participants. Pope Benedict chose "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8) as the WYD 2008 theme.

"The assignments given by WYD authorities are very difficult. We have not held a joint meeting of all Catholic delegates to form a working plan, since all of them belong to different dioceses and parts of the country," Roderick lamented. "Meanwhile, I am keeping the delegates updated and sharing ideas with them through e-mails."

The recently concluded university examinations also kept Faisal Shahzad and other participants from keeping up with WYD developments.

"I had checked my inbox last month before commencing my exams. I am not sure whether our presentation will be in the form of a tableau or just plain dancing," the 21-year-old student told UCA News. "I am very excited to go and see youngsters from all over the world in a single venue. It will be a good opportunity to share ideas," said Shahzad, president of the youth group at St. Mary's Church in Jamke Cheema, 150 kilometers southeast of Islamabad.

However, Ajmal Hadayat, who attended the international WYD 2005 celebration in Germany, is disappointed he could not organize a similar local celebration the last two years.

"After returning to the country, I discussed with youth members the prospect of holding a national youth day, an inspiration from WYD. But I could not succeed due to lack of interest," he told UCA News. Hadayat, who is also going to Sydney, heads the Christ Youth Group at Holy Family Church in Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, Karachi archdiocese's youth commission is conducting weekly seminars in different parishes to raise "awareness regarding this year's Catholic Youth Festival (WYD)," according to commission officials. It plans to organize a "youth rally" for about 1,000 local Catholics on July 20, the day the WYD events conclude in Australia. The archdiocese is based in Karachi, 1,150 kilometers southwest of Islamabad.

Catechesis has been the aim of WYD since Pope John Paul II instituted the annual event in December 1985. Since then, an international-level gathering has been held every two or three years. The first international WYD celebration was held in 1987 in Argentina, then in Spain (1989), Poland (1991), the United States (1993), the Philippines (1995), France (1997), Italy (2000), Canada (2002) and Germany (2005).

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