A new light is expected to dawn on the Catholic church in the Bathurst dioceses after local pilgrims involved in World Youth Day (WYD) returned yesterday with a new drive and vigour to keep their faith strong as well as achieve more in the community.

Around 25 people returned to the Cathedral after spending the week enjoying WYD with approximately 125,000 international pilgrims.

Bathurst pilgrim Marie Formosa said it was almost like being in another world with so many people focused on expressing their faith.

“It fells like we have been away for a month because there were so many things together and so many experiences,” she said.

“It has been exciting but I’m looking forward to some decent sleep in a bed.

“It is good to be home, very very good.”

For MacKillop College year 12 student, Katrina Tambasco, Sunday’s mass at Randwick doubled as a very impressive 18th birthday party before she knuckles down for the rest of the year.

“It was something special sharing it with 400,000 pilgrims, as well as a few hundred priests and of cause the Pope,” she said.

“I’m now looking forward to get back into studying for my HSC and getting through that work load.”

While pilgrims return to their homes all of the country, yesterday also marked the departure of Pope Benedict the XVI after he officiated at the Mass at the chapel of St Mary's with a group representing victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy.

The Pope also went to The Domain to thank volunteers who had helped make World Youth Day a success.

According to WYD08 Coordinator, Gabrielle Sinclair, the week long events will have had such a very long lasting effect on everyone who attended.

“I think every one has already been effected [by WYD] and that young people now feel that they have a place in the church for them and that it is a good place to be,” she said.

“I think they won’t want to let this feeling go and put things together particular after sharing their experiences with people from around the world.

“We have the chance now to go on to bigger things, it is a great opportunity to establish new roads driven by young people.”

Something that Ms Formosa believed the youth of Bathurst would be very interested in doing.

“I am really looking forward to the youth moving forward and being more involved in the community,” she said.

“It is very important the the feeling from World Youth Day continues and people stay involved.”