Four Capuchins from St. Augustine Province, headquartered in Pittsburgh PA, traveled to Cologne, Germany, for World Youth Day 2005. Friars Tom Betz, Moises Villalta, Paul Dressler and Kevin Thompson joined other Capuchins and about 1,000,000 young Catholics for a week of prayer, singing and fellowship. It all culminated in a huge Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI for the entire gathering.

The trip was a true pilgrimage, not a vacation. The pilgrims slept in school gyms, in the field where the Holy Father would celebrate Mass and one night in the Cologne airport. But it was not really a hardship because of the great care given by the German hosts and because the exuberant spirit was everywhere as young young Catholics walked the streets, rode the trains and buses and packed the churches singing, clapping and praying.

A highlight was Cafe Capucinno located just across the square from the magnificent Cologne cathedral. The cafe served coffee, tea and ice cream to pilgrims and was run entirely by Capuchin friars from all over the world. It gave the Capuchins the opportunity to meet young Catholics from across the globe and to enjoy a little rest from the hustle and bustle of the World Youth Day 2005 events.