WelCom August 2023
Some 120 young pilgrims from Aotearoa New Zealand have embarked on an experience of a lifetime travelling together to Lisbon, Portugal, to attend World Youth Day 2023. There, they will join over 400,000 young people from all over the world to take part in the 37th WYD, from 1–6 August 2023.
Pope Francis will visit Portugal and will preside over the official Mass in Lisbon on 6 August. The Holy Father has presided over four World Youth Days: in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013; Krakow, Poland, in 2016; and Panama City, Panama, in 2019.
The Aotearoa New Zealand World Youth Day Pilgrimage has been organised by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Council for Young People. The council has representatives from each diocese working in youth ministry.
Young Church Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Wellington Louise Lloyd is one of the council members and is travelling with 23 other pilgrims representing the archdiocese. Eleven pilgrims are travelling from the Diocese of Palmerston North.
The New Zealand pilgrims, accompanied by Alex Bailey of Hamilton, Fr Michael Therese Scheerger csj of Christchurch and Samuel Brebner of Auckland, departed for Paris on 14 July to begin their European journey.
The group are having the most incredible experience says Nick Wilson, acting co-chair of the NZCBC Council for Young People.
‘Their pilgrimage started in Paris, and they have been to the usual significant tourist sites as well as sites of special significance to the Church, including St Catherine Laboure Chapel, St Vincent de Paul Chapel, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, St Therese of Lisieux, Fourvière, Lourdes, Ars and Fatima.’
The young people arrive in Portugal on 31 July to begin their ‘Days in the Diocese’ experience. Their pilgrimage culminates with the official World Youth Day Mass on 6 August with Pope Francis. They will arrive home from 9 August.
‘It is magnificent to see the council’s planning and hard work coming together in facilitating this experience of a lifetime for our young Catholics,’ says Nick Wilson.
‘We look forward to them sharing their experiences on their return and hearing about their prayerful adventures. We hope this encounter will have reinvigorated their energy and faith for Spirit-led service to our local church.’
