Day 2 & 3 - Sunday 30 July & Monday 31 July 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The last couple of days have been special for our World Youth Day pilgrims as we spent Sunday in Fatima and finally arrived in Lisbon on Monday! While the last few days have been tiring and we have been adjusting to a new time zone, there has been so much enthusiasm and joy expressed as our pilgrims immerse themselves in this journey!

Sunday began in Tomar where our under 18 pilgrims had a hearty buffet breakfast at the Hotel dos Templários in Tomar. The pilgrims spent the morning resting and gently travelling around Tomar in their small groups.

In the afternoon, we travelled to the town of Fatima to visit the sacred shrine of the Our Lady of Fatima for a guided tour of the shrine and had an opportunity to walk around Fatima in their small groups. On Sunday evening, we gathered for Mass in one of the chapels at the shrine. The festivities continued with a Rosary and a magnificent candlelight procession around the square of the shrine. Many WYD pilgrims from across the globe participated and it was a delight to see the different national flags represented. It was an even special occasion as a number of our pilgrims assisted in carrying the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the procession!

Our under 18s returned to the Hotel dos Templários in Tomar for a good night's rest.

On Monday morning, our under 18 groups packed their bags in Tomar and travelled by coach to check into the Marriott Hotel in Lisbon! After a briefing, checking in and receiving their official WYD pilgrim registration, our pilgrims had an opportunity to explore the capital city in their small groups or continue to rest in the hotel.

We concluded the day with a beautiful Mass with the whole Melbourne pilgrimage together celebrated by Archbishop Comensoli in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. Dinner followed back in the Marriott Hotel.

We want to particularly thank our support team - including our Allied Health team and first aid officers for their tireless work supporting our pilgrims in the last few days!

Keep in touch with our pilgrimage on Facebook and Instagram.

Our Parent/Family Hotline (+44 7360 666 378) is available if parents or guardians urgently need to contact the Pilgrimage Leadership Team from Thursday 27 July to Thursday 10 August 2023.

Please continue to keep our pilgrimage in your prayers as the official World Youth Day festivities begin on Tuesday!

The WYD Team