(Toledo News Now) - Right now, a faith filled journey to the city of Brotherly Love is in the works for hundreds of Catholics from across Northwest Ohio.
In Philadelphia, their faith will come full circle as they see the Holy Father - Pope Francis in person.
WTOL will be joining them on the journey as well as introducing you to the 15 scholarship families chosen for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
One of those lucky families is Susie and Benjamin Yount, who cannot contain their excitement for the upcoming Pilgrimage to Philadelphia.
"Enlightening… strengthening and exciting… and just amazing," said Susie.
The mother-son duo from the Sacred Heart Parish in Fremont have their calendars marked for The World Meeting of Families next month.
They were one of the lucky scholarship families chosen from the Toledo Catholic Diocese.
Susie says she still remembers the exact day when they got the call.
"In total shock… Tears of joy and he was getting ready to go to a baseball practice with his dad and saw me crying and was wondering what was going on and I told him… and of course he's running through the house screaming that we're gonna see the Pope," said Susie.
Susie thanks her son Benjamin for making it all happen. The 11-year-old pressured his mom to fill out the paperwork after he heard about the trip and scholarship opportunity at his grade school.
"A once in a lifetime opportunity to go and just to strengthen our faith," said Benjamin.
The Younts will also be taking the journey with Susie's mother and father.
She credits her parents for being Catholic role models and true guides in her life. She says they encouraged her to raise Benjamin in the church just like she was, something she says has truly paid off.
"I'm so proud for him. To share it even though this is my first time being in his presence… it just it is… at his young age of 11 years old. I hope it strengthens his faith even more and he never lets go of it," said Susie.
Now, the Younts are kicking it into high gear, researching and studying each and every aspect of Philadelphia and mentally preparing for the Pope's presence, something they say they never would have imagined.
"Anything that helps build your faith even stronger…is also amazing," said Susie.
Ben says the trip could be a little overwhelming for a kid, but he's ecstatic to be a part of this faith filled journey with the people he loves and the man he looks up to, creating a memory that will last a lifetime.
"Just seeing him and actually having mass with him and having mass with 2.5 million people," said Benjamin.
Read more family stories here.
