One week prior to World Youth Day (WYD) 2013 in Rio, 150 pilgrims from Australia and New Zealand arrived in Chile for a Mission Experience in four Columban Parishes. They were accompanied by 11 clergy including Bishop Christopher Prowse from the Diocese of Sale.
The Mission Experience in Chile was to be a genuine encounter between the Chilean parishioners and the young pilgrims, an encounter in faith, between different cultures and languages. The Chilean parishioners would be equal partners in the Mission Experience.
The pilgrims came to learn, to participate, to share, to be transformed. They came as friends and as guests, to receive the hospitality and warmth of the Chilean parishioners. They came to visit their fellow Catholics, to worship the Lord together, each in their own language and manner.
In order to help facilitate the encounter between the parishes and the pilgrims, each parish programme had an outline containing seven pillars or themes: 
All pilgrim groups were met at Santiago airport by the Melbourne Columban Mission Centre Team: Fr Dan Harding (Editor of The Far East magazine), Janette Mentha (Director of Mission Programs) and Assunta Scarpino (Marketing Assistant).
What followed was a week of well planned and coordinated activities, lots of fun, shared meals, encounters, workshops, Eucharistic celebrations, guided walks, visits to pastoral centres, dance lessons, cooking lessons, sports and recreation, singing and dancing, mission activities, times of prayer and silence, shared reflection and tears of sadness as the week came to an end.
Highlights included...
Joint celebration of the Eucharist
The 150 pilgrims and several hundred Chilean parishioners participated in a joint celebration of the Eucharist in the parish of Santo Tomas Apostol. Bishop Pedro Ossandon, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, was accompanied by Bishop Christopher Prowse of the Australian Diocese of Sale, the 11 pilgrim priests and several Columban priests. It was a truly memorable occasion followed by a lunch for 500 people.
Guided Walks through the neighbourhoods
Pilgrims were introduced to the reality and lives of the Chilean parishioners and the importance of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation concern in their daily lives. Pilgrims saw first-hand the small size and overcrowding of public housing and apartments, shanty town shacks and squatter areas, the danger of violence from street gangs, drug and alcohol problems and much more. 
Reflection on mission
Particularly memorable was the workshop where each parishioner and pilgrim discussed what mission meant to them in the light of the week’s experience. Likewise, at one of the evening Eucharistic celebrations pilgrims and parishioners were given the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of mission in the light of their guided walks through the neighbourhood.
Fun and games
Pilgrims spent time teaching local Chilean youth how to play Australian Rules Football, Rugby League and Rugby Union. The Chilean youth gave the New Zealanders and Australians some good soccer lessons as well! The locals and pilgrims bonded through cooking lessons on how to prepare Chilean empanadas and for the Chileans, how to make ANZAC biscuits.
Pastoral visitations
Accompanied by Parish Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, the pilgrims visited the sick and bed ridden patients in their homes and also a local government run medical centre where they helped serve tea and sandwiches to the doctors, patients and nurses. Pilgrims also visited a Kindergarten and a Home for the Elderly where they danced and sang for the local children and the elderly residents joined in.
In conclusion...
The four participating parishes all felt energized by the Mission Experience which had brought new life and energy to the parish communities. The parishioners had an important experience of the Catholicity of the Church. They met committed faith-filled Catholics who prayed, read the Bible and celebrated the Eucharist.
The Australian and New Zealand pilgrims remarked how overwhelmed they were by the generosity, vibrancy, warmth and the joy the Chilean parishioners shared with them. Pilgrims learnt that no matter how simple the lifestyles of the Chilean parishioners and how lacking in consumer goods, luxuries and living space they had, they are truly faith filled people always giving the little that they have to those who are more in need.
00:00:48 | Jul 18, 2013
Video: Welcome to Chile - A Columban pilgrim from Christchurch dancing the traditional Cueca.
For all who took part in this Mission Experience at WYD 2013 - Thank you - it was a compelling and moving experience never to be forgotten!
Fr Dan Harding worked in Chile for 21 years and is now the editor of The Far East.
Read more WYD 2013 - Columban Mission Experience in Chile - Daily Diary Entries