Two Tauranga pilgrims have returned from a South American trip of a lifetime. Aquinas College students Marcus Dudley, 14, and Kate Gilday, 17, spent several weeks abroad last month for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.
More than three million young Catholics from around the world descended on Copacabana Beach in Brazil for the closing mass of World Youth Day 2013.
Pope Francis, in his first papal visit to South America, hosted several events throughout the week in what many described as "the biggest Catholic beach party ever".
Kate spent the fortnight leading up to World Youth Day as a part of a joint Australia-New Zealand service project in Chile. Based primarily in and around Santiago, Kate and her contemporaries had their eyes opened, working first-hand in schools and assisting children in poor areas.
Marcus described his experience as life-changing.