DILI (UCAN) -- Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili told 300 World Youth Day (WYD) delegates at a special Mass that they should use their experience at the international event to help bring peace in Timor Leste (East Timor).

"We expect you to bring back those good experiences to share with others who do not have the same opportunity, to contribute to peace," he told the Timorese youths during Mass on June 30 at Becora Parish in Dili.

Members of the Timor Leste Church's WYD delegation will begin traveling in to Australia in groups from July 9 for the July 15-20 WYD events in Sydney.

Bishop da Silva said Timorese youths at the event would be representing the local Church and should act as Christ's apostles. "Don't just spend your time holidaying but use it as a good opportunity to meet other young people from other countries. It is a good opportunity to learn new things from them and then bring these back and implement them here," he told the delegates.

Prime Minister Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, who was at the Mass, also encouraged the youth, many of whom are traveling abroad for the first time. He allayed their fears about flying and encountering different customs. By acting with love, respect and discipline, he said, "you will be showing a good example for your friends in that country (Australia)."

Echoing sentiments similar to those of Bishop da Silva, the prime minister told them: "Timorese youth have witnessed all kinds of violence. It is a good occasion to learn from your mates from other countries and apply it in your daily life here."

Youthful street gangs are blamed for much of the violence that flared intermittently in the past two years, paralyzing parts the country. Armed with swords and stones, they roamed the streets, burned houses and looted property.

Filomeno Tilman, 23, told UCA News on June 30 that he and other local youths did not have the chance to attend other WYD celebrations. He said he hopes to meet and experience the love of God with others and learn from them, "especially how to be an agent of peace for my neighbors, my village and my whole country."

Tilman also said he feels that representing Timor Leste's almost 1 million Catholics as a WYD delegate is a heavy responsibility.

Bishop da Silva and Bishop Basilio do Nascimento of Baucau, who heads the other diocese in Timor Leste, also are part of the local delegation and will participate in the first day of the celebration. While in Australia, the Church there will cover transportation and accommodation costs for the delegation from the neighboring country.

Catechesis has been the major aim of WYD since Pope John Paul II instituted the annual event in December 1985. The first international WYD celebration was held in 1987 in Argentina, and others followed 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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