The pilgrims journeyed from Muenster, 500 kilometres from Berlin. The group had been in contact with Mrs Pieper for the last 15 months sending emails back and forward in preparation for WYD and for the opportunity to catch up with a previous Muenster local.

“They came here for the Pieper family. I’ve always been a contact here, now for 53 years,” Mrs Pieper said.

“I’ve had a connection with them since April last year. The leader is a good friend of one of my nieces in Muenster.”

The group was made up of 22 people with three leaders and 19 pilgrim youth aged between 16 and 17. Mrs Pieper spent three full days with the group while they stayed at St Alberts College at the University of New England.

The group spent the last 15 months fundraising for the trip to attend WYD and to ensure they could meet up with Mrs Pieper to talk about her life experiences living in Australia.

“They wanted to talk about what it was like to come here in the 1950s,” Mrs Pieper said.

“They were wonderful young people. They listened and asked questions. We spoke in German but they all spoke English very well.

“I think it is like any other exchange program. Young people from all over the world get to know each other and their ways of living. I think it gives them a better understanding of the whole world.”

The group moved on to stay with the Uralla parish and spent time taking in traditional Australian experiences. They spent time shearing, gold panning and were able to view Australian native wildlife. They left for Sydney last Monday and Mrs Pieper was regretful that she could not be going down with them.

“I am sorry I didn’t make the effort to go down to Sydney. I would have if I were 20 years younger,” Mrs Pieper laughed.

“It is for young people of the whole world. Not just Catholic world youth.

“It provides a better understanding of different cultures and maybe life in general.”

For Mrs Peiper the highlight of her stay with the German pilgrims was the welcome mass in Armidale on Thursday morning, saying the Cathedral she attended was packed to capacity.