SEOUL (UCAN) -- The bishop in charge of Seoul archdiocese's youth apostolate has asked its World Youth Day (WYD) delegates to serve as missioners dedicated to transform society on their return.

The archdiocese held a Mass on July 5 to send off its 160 youth delegates. Auxiliary Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man of Seoul presided at the Mass in Myeongdong Cathedral's Coste Hall. Eleven priests accompanying the youths to the WYD 2008 celebration in Sydney, Australia, concelebrated.

The bishop urged the delegates to become a powerful force to transform society. "Saints Paul, Teresa of Lisieux and Andrew Kim Tae-gon, and Jesus himself, were all young people like you. They changed the world," he told them in his homily.

Bishop Cho is episcopal vicar for the archdiocese's youth apostolate and president of the Korean bishops' Committee for Youth Ministry. He urged the youth delegates to "make the world full of Jesus' love," reminding them that "we have that power in us, which God has granted us though the Holy Spirit."

At the Mass, the Seoul delegates pledged to devote themselves to Jesus' love and to show that love to other WYD delegates from all over the world.

Albina Kim Hye-jin told UCA News: "I'm really thrilled to meet Catholic youths from all over the world. It will be a huge festival worshiping our God." The 32-year-old delegate expects to gain much from the opportunity to "meet hundreds of thousands of youths witnessing their faith life." She also promised to "share Korean youths' dynamism" at the event.

Catherine Lee Ji-hyun, 31, hopes that "WYD will be a lasting experience for my faith life and that I will make many friends from other countries."

About 1,100 South Korean delegates from all 16 Church jurisdictions are expected to join in the July 15-20 international celebration of the 23rd WYD in Sydney. They are scheduled to leave South Korea in groups on July 8 and 9.

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney is set to preside at the opening Mass on July 15. WYD 2008 has the theme, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8).

Before the official opening, the Korean youth delegates, aged 19-35, plan to stay at homes of Australian and expatriate Korean families, and join various events such as catechism sessions and pilgrimages to churches and other holy places. To prepare the youths for WYD, each diocese has held several preparatory meetings.

"It is important for the participants to follow the Holy Father's will to convene WYD. He wants the young disciples to receive the Holy Spirit and spread the Gospel to the world," Bishop Cho told UCA News on July 5.

He said he worries that only one-tenth of local Catholic youths regularly attend Sunday Mass and other Church activities. "In this situation, I hope the delegates experience the vivid faith life of others and become missioners in helping of those who left the Church return," he added.

Bishop Cho, Bishop John Chrisostom Kwon Hyeok-ju of Andong and Jesuit Bishop Joseph Lee Han-taek of Uijeongbu are accompanying the Korean delegates.

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