But the group was buoyed by excitement - and warmly greeted with a meal of hot soup and rolls, prepared by members of St Joseph's parish, Bulli.

"We've left our summer where it's about 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), but we've come well prepared," said team leader Brother Al Vu, indicating his coat, hat and scarf.

Brother Vu said his team hailed from the west coast of the United States and were part of the Salesian Catholic order, which mainly worked with young people around the world.

"We're a youth movement in California, most of these young people come from a Salesian school, parish or youth centre," he said.

"There's a large group from Los Angeles, 18 are from an all boys high school in the inner city. Most have never left that major part of LA."

The weather came as a shock for 111 Nigerian visitors. Bishop Gabriel Abegunrin said most of his team had never experienced the cold before.

"It's good that our young ones experience the cold - now it's no longer a matter of paperwork and they can tell the people back home how it feels," he said.

Bishop Abegunrin joined Wollongong Catholic Bishop Peter Ingham in a visit to Kiama yesterday afternoon to greet a bus load of US pilgrims from the Michigan district.

Their flight into Sydney had been delayed by two hours.