About
What is
World Youth Day?
World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering
of young people from around the world to celebrate the love of Christ for humanity.
WYD is a powerful opportunity
to gather with millions of young people from around the world who share your love of Christ and want to celebrate His mercy and love.
While participating in the 2023 WYD,
we will get to experience the Portuguese history, culture, and food! We will also be participating in a retreat experience in Fatima, joining millions of young Catholics in prayer and celebration, and journeying with the Holy Father through an experience of a powerful overnight vigil, closing with a Papal Mass.
Why go to World Youth Day?
01.
A moving pilgrimage in faith, which enables pilgrims to be witnesses to Christ
02.
An experience of the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen the faith of young people
03.
Pope Saint John Paul II created WYD to provide “an encounter with Jesus Christ, His Spirit and His Church.”
Who can attend World Youth Day?
Must be 18 years or older on departure date.
A person in good physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.
A person with a valid passport more than 6 months outside of expiry on departure date.
What does it mean that
WORLD YOUTH DAY IS A PILGRIMAGE?
Our preparation for the 2023 WYD will be readying our group to enter into a pilgrimage. It is very exciting to travel to Europe for this international gathering; however, this trip isn’t a vacation. It’s a journey of seeking and experiencing God.
It is a time of simply ‘being’ rather than always ‘doing’.
To set aside time for God and feel closer to Him. To discern His will and guidance at times of transition or difficulty.
To be strengthened in faith, and feel inspired by the communion of saints who have gone before us.
Pilgrimage can be a life-changing, transformational experience
What is the theme of World Youth Day?
Each celebration of World Youth Day has a special Scriptural theme. The theme for WYD Lisbon 2023 is, “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39). Mary of Nazareth is the great figure of the Christian journey, who teaches us to say yes to god. The Scripture passage chosen begins the account of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary, in her action of getting up presents herself both as a woman of charity and mission. She leaves hurriedly – we, too, as young people, are called to get up and go to be missionary evangelists for the Church and for the world!
© Diocese of Hamilton 2022
The main source to find information regarding World Youth Day 2023, including events leading up to Lisbon, Portugal as well as events in the Diocese of Hamilton.
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