World Youth Day
Thursday, July 29th to Tuesday, August 10th 2027!
World Youth Day 2027 will be held in Seoul, South Korea. Registration is now open! Registration deadline is August 15, 2026.
WYD 2027 Seoul
“Take Courage! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
What is World Youth Day?
World Youth Day is a global gathering of young people with the Pope. It’s more than just a trip; it’s a pilgrimage of faith, a celebration of the universal Church, and a way to witness the vibrancy of the Gospel in a new culture.
In this video, Meg Hunter-Kilmer dives into the heart of World Youth Day. She shares why the Diocese is heading to Seoul and why you specifically are being called to join the pilgrimage. If you’re looking for a sign to say “yes” to this journey, this is it!
Five patron saints have been announced to guide young Catholics, featuring an interactive “Meet Your Patron Saint!” quiz to help participants connect with their stories. Patrons include Pope St. John Paul II, St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini, St. Josephine Bakhita, and St. Carlo Acutis
Why go to Seoul, South Korea for WYD 2027?
It’s not Europe, so is there even a history of Catholicism there? YES, Korea is the ONLY country that has been self-evangelized.
“The first Korean Catholics profoundly shook the country’s spiritual landscape. For centuries, life in Korea was rooted in Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism—none of which resembled the Christian faith with its astonishing claim: that God became man and willingly suffered for humanity.
In 1779, a group of Korean scholars—not foreign missionaries—gathered in Buddhist temples for academic seminars. They studied Catholic writings (alongside Neo-Confucianism and other philosophies) with books they had carried back from diplomatic trips to Beijing. Some were captivated. This faith, unlike anything they had encountered before, began to take root.
It didn’t take long for the government to notice. Catholicism seemingly conflicted with Confucian society, where social order was everything. Suspicion hardened into hostility, and hostility swelled into persecution. Four major waves—in 1801, 1839, 1846, and 1866—claimed nearly 10,000 lives.
Catholics dared to profess a God who showed no partiality—who welcomed rich and poor, men and women, noble and outcast alike. They declared that in God’s kingdom, all were equal.
And it was their voices that truly drove back the spiritual darkness.” (Taken from Sarah Hoyoung Ku)
What will this cost?
Base Cost: Full package price: $5669
Land Only: $3669
The base cost per pilgrim is dependent on your transportation preference. There will be a full package price and a land only package price. The full package fee includes estimated costs for flights, WYD 2027 registration, hotels, and most meals as well as support from our travel partner, Verso Ministries. The land-only fee does not include flights, but includes WYD 2027 registration, hotels, and most meals as well as support from our travel partner. Knowing that this considerable investment will require great sacrifice, we encourage interested persons to begin prayerfully fundraising now. We also know that this will certainly be an experience that will impact participants and bear great fruit for years to come. What is not included in the base price is travel insurance, drinks, certain tips, baggage fees, personal purchases, etc. A full list of what is covered will be coming soon!
Pilgrim Payment Schedule
Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
September 15, 2026 – 25% of package
December 17, 2026 – 25% of package
February 12, 2027 – 25% of package
March 24, 2027 – Final balance
Diocesan Financial Aid will be available for young adult pilgrims. The first round application for financial aid will close on May 22, 2026. Financial aid applicants will learn on June 12, 2026 how much funding they have received.
Registration deadline will be August 15, 2026.
Follow the link below to complete the Financial aid application! If you have any questions pertaining to financial aid or registration, please contact Carl Loesch at [email protected]
Fundraising Tips for Pilgrims
The price of the WYD pilgrimage is often one of the biggest hurdles for interested youth and young adults to overcome. The cost can appear out of reach. However, remember that you are not alone in this effort – involve the community around you and trust in the Lord. The fundraising process itself can actually be spiritually enriching, as you see how God provides to make the pilgrimage possible for you.
The earlier you begin fundraising efforts, the better. A longer time span allows more time to accumulate the necessary funds. Below are several means of raising funds. Do not rely on only one means of funding – all of these can be carried out at the same time. Develop a budget for how much you reasonably expect to raise through each means, and then start working toward that goal!
How much can you save up between now and the final payment due date? What expenditures might you be able to give up in order to direct that money to WYD instead? Some suggestions:
- Forego replacing older electronics or clothes for another year
- Downgrade or cancel your video streaming subscription(s) for a period of time
- Switch to making your daily coffee at home rather than purchasing it
- Limit personal purchases
What might be difficult but possible for you to sacrifice?
Even small sacrifices can accumulate to a significant amount over a long period of time. The spiritual benefits of personal sacrifice can really add up too, similar to what we experience during Lent.
As in past WYD pilgrimages, the diocese will have some scholarships available to pilgrims. Pilgrims can apply for scholarships from between May 1 and July 15, 2026. Pilgrims will hear back if they have received diocesan funding by June 12, 2026. The scholarship application form will be available in Spring of 2026. The scholarship application is for young adult pilgrims ONLY. Registration deadline for WYD is August 15, 2026.
Priests, seminarians, and transitional deacons will have some scholarship available, more details to come.
Find out who else at your parish has interest in going to WYD, especially if your parish has an active young adult ministry. Work together and approach your pastor for permission and guidance to organize a parish-wide fundraiser.
Contact your parish to find out if the young adult group is organizing any fundraising events that you might be able to assist with in return for a share of the proceeds.
If neither of the above is possible at your parish, ask whether the parish can commit to help you financially in some other way.
For all of these options, you might solicit prayer intentions from the parish to bring with you, share the experience with the parish via a blog or social media during the pilgrimage, and/or create a slideshow presentation upon your return to show the parish what happened and the fruits of the pilgrimage in your life.
Approach community organizations, such as your local Knights of Columbus council, to inquire about funding potential. This can be done individually or as a group of young adults. In return, you might offer to help with community events that they organize, as well as solicit prayer intentions and share the experience through a blog or slideshow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Young adults age 18-35. Leading and accompanying our young adults will be Bishop Rhoades, priests, seminarians, ministry leaders, and diocesan staff. (Note: our diocese will not be hosting a WYD 2027 pilgrimage for high school students.)
Yes. Mass is the heartbeat of the pilgrimage. You will celebrate Mass daily, sometimes with our own diocesan group, sometimes with pilgrims from other countries in large catechetical sessions, and finally at the “Statio Orbis” (Closing Mass) with the Pope and millions of others.
While the official Vatican schedule will be finalized closer to the date, a typical WYD week looks like this:
Mornings: “Rise and Shine” for catechesis (teaching sessions) led by bishops from around the world, followed by Mass.
Afternoons: The Youth Festival! This includes concerts, exhibits, and prayer encounters across the host city.
Evenings: Main events like the Opening Ceremony, the Papal Welcome, and the Stations of the Cross.
The Weekend: A multi-mile walk to the vigil site for an overnight prayer service under the stars, followed by the final Sunday morning Mass with the Pope.
August in Seoul is hot, humid, and rainy.
Heat: Temperatures often sit in the high 80s or 90s (°F).
Rain: It is the tail end of the “Jangma” (monsoon) season, so heavy downpours are common.
Humidity: It can feel quite “sticky,” so packing moisture-wicking clothing and staying hydrated is essential.
Walking: Expect to walk 6–10 miles per day on paved streets, hills, and occasionally uneven terrain.
The Vigil Walk: The most challenging part is the “Pilgrim Walk” to the final vigil site, where you carry your own gear (sleeping bag, clothes, etc.) and sleep on the ground overnight.