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 June 1 and August 15, 2022. Pilgrims will hear back if they have received diocesan funding by Sept. 1, 2022. The scholarship application form is available at the top of the page. The scholarship application is for youth and young adult pilgrims ONLY. Registration deadline for WYD is Oct. 1, 2022.

Priests, seminarians, and transitional deacons will receive a 50% scholarship ($2,265) automatically.

Schools and parishes gain financial support for chaperones for every (5) high school students they register from their parish or school group. For every (5) high school students in a parish or school pilgrimage group, a chaperone accompanying those young people will receive $2,265 (50%) toward their registration.

Find out who else at your parish has interest in going to WYD, especially if your parish has an active youth or young adult ministry. Work together and approach your pastor for permission and guidance to organize a parish-wide fundraiser.

Contact your parish youth minister to find out if the youth group is organizing any fundraising events that you might be able to assist with in return for a share of the proceeds. Youth groups often need adults to help supervise activities.

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.