My name’s Jerry Martinez from Los Angeles California. I work at the University of California in Los Angeles. I’m an administrative worker there. I’m the office manager. “I’m going on this pilgrimage because I have this yearning, a yearning to find some sort of peace in my quest for Christ. “ “On this pilgrimage, this yearning that I have, I’ve had for many, many years. I’ve actually been to Rome and I’ve been to some Catholic shrines, but never on a pilgrimage with a group of people, a group of my peers. Hopefully together we can inspire other youths to go on a pilgrimage together with their friends through Europe, visit Catholic shrines, get closer to Christ, learn a little bit more about our history, the Catholic faith, our religion the reason we are so universal, so Catholic. Anywhere you go, any Catholic church you go to in the world there is a unity in that Church you feel at peace. You know what to expect when you go into that Church no matter which country you’re in. “  “I think a problem that I have and what I’ve noticed in a lot of people my own age is we’re afraid to embrace Christ as much as we would like to in public or voice our love for Christ simply because we think it’s not hip or society around us thinks it’s not hip. It’s kind of almost un-cool to say you love Christ in public or people might think you’re self-righteous.” “So we’re almost scared to voice our belief in Christ or our love for Christ. But I think we all do. And I think if we just had a little bit more strength…I hope from this pilgrimage that I’m able to get the strength from Christ. I try to through prayer. I pray every night and ask Christ for strength to lead the way, to lead the life of example.”  “I think it’s through our examples that we might influence others. So hopefully when I get back to LA I’ll be a changed Jerry, a Jerry not afraid to defend his faith.”