CRANBERRY TWP — Eleven years after his death, Saint John Paul II’s spirit lives with local Catholic churches.

About 15 parishioners from St. Kilian and students from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School are in Poland this week to celebrate World Youth Day.

The parishioners are making the pilgrimage to Pope John Paul II’s homeland in Krakow from now until Sunday.

“He was a great leader of the people,” Mars resident and high school parent Mary Morreale said. “He spoke to every individual Catholic. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate what he brought to our Catholic faith.”

Morreale’s daughter Michaela, 17, is one of those in Krakow. She became involved in St. Kilian’s pilgrimage through Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

Mary Morreale said this trip will be beneficial to Michaela and others of the Catholic faith.

“It is extremely meaningful to her,” Mary Morreale said. “She has been working hard to pay to get there. She is meeting with the other 2.5 million Catholics around the world to celebrate being Catholic.”

She said the pilgrims have been preparing for the trip since September.

“They got to take one backpack with them and are sleeping on a gym floor,” Morreale said.

The first World Youth Day was celebrated in 1986 when John Paul II was the pontiff. There have been 12 celebration since then worldwide.

Pilgrims will travel across Poland, including visits to Warsaw, Auschwitz, Wadowice and elsewhere.

St. Kilian parishioners also recently created a mobile phone app which gives advice to Catholics.

The free app, named “Ask John Paul II,” is a “Magic 8-ball-style” program in which people ask a question and tap on the pope’s hand. From there, the pope gives advice in the form of a religious quote.

A cappella music is also sung by St. Kilian priest the Rev. Levi Hartle.

“It’s a fun way for people to look at it for advice,” said Ellen Cavanaugh, chief executive officer of Sewickley-based Grow a Generation. “One of the things we teach is to turn toward holy writing. These quotes were taken from letters written for young people for the World Youth Day celebration.”

For more information on World Youth Day, visit www.worldyouthday.com.