As you begin your preparations for World Youth Day, this page will be updated with frequently asked questions about the Archdiocese of Melbourne's pilgrimage to World Youth Day Lisbon 2023.
Click here: Register Today to register!
All indicative prices include your airfares. Please note that final costings are to be confirmed in 2023 and are subject to change.
Yes! To apply to be a small group leader, please go to:
https://udisciple.melbournecatholic.org/wyd/opportunities-to-serve
and fill out the Expression of Interest form.
We are also accepting expressions of interest from nurses, mental health professionals and those trained in first aid, musicians and singers.
No. While some people will join our pilgrimage as a member of a group already, there will be plenty of pilgrims who will come as individuals. WYD is a great time to meet new people, and connect with the Church more deeply.
Full and Final payment is due 3 April 2023.
Unfortunately, the final payment date cannot be extended. Due to the large volume of people expected in Lisbon, payment to secure our places cannot be delayed.
World Youth Day is open to participants between the age of 16 and 35.
If you are aged 16-18 we encourage you to reach out to your local parish or Catholic school to begin conversations about attending World Youth Day.
In short, no. The prices we have secured are based on the entire group departing and arriving in Australia on the set dates under the same group fare. Some exemptions may apply for compassionate reasons and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Pilgrims will be accommodated in shared rooms (2-3 people) in hotels in the various cities they visit. Due to the nature of this pilgrimage, single-room accommodation is unavailable.
The Archdiocese is committed to the safety, wellbeing and human dignity of children, young people and adults.
Our team is working hard with our partners to ensure that our Pilgrimage to World Youth Day is not only enjoyable but safe. As with all overseas travel, pilgrims will be required to take out comprehensive travel insurance for their own peace of mind.
You can secure your place by paying the non-refundable $800 deposit.
Yes, you can choose which pilgrimage you wish to attend immediately.
You can pay in instalments or via a lump sum—the choice is yours. A member of our team will reach out to set up a payment plan.
The URL and QR code can be shared so that those in your community and family can contribute to the cost of your pilgrimage.
Yes, this can be tailored to what suits you best.
Yes, where possible, we want to form organic groups—either parish or school groups and/or groups from within your local area.
All under-18 groups will be single-gender groups. Over-18s will be offered the option of single- or mixed-gender groups.
No, groups will be separated strictly by age.
No problem! This is how most pilgrims register. We will place you in a group in close geographical proximity to your place of residence.
No, but we strongly encourage you to use insurance by CCI that has been specifically designed for WYD participants and this unique event. More details to be released in 2023.
You are encouraged to renew or apply for your Australian passport as soon as possible.
Although possible, while in Portugal, we will have Australian consular support, and that support will not be available to those travelling on other passports. Please contact us if you plan to travel on anything other than an Australian passport.
No, there are currently no COVID travel restrictions on travellers to Portugal, Italy or the Holy Land. This may change. Pilgrims will be required to comply with the COVID travel restrictions of any country on their choice of itinerary.
There will be a range of fundraising tools available on udisciple.melbournecatholic.org/wyd to assist you with ideas to fundraise for your pilgrimage.
Applications open in mid-November. You will need a letter of support from leadership, a principal, parish priest or movement leader to accompany your application.
As a small group leader, you will be required to complete the Essentials of Christian Leadership course. This consists of 30 hours of formation from April to July and will include Saturday face-to-face sessions, online training, some preparatory reading and a weekend retreat.
You would get a percentage back depending on how close you are to the departure date, as per the Harvest Journey Pilgrim Agreement. If you need to pull out, all money donated will go back directly to the person who made the donation.
Subsidies will be made available to those who choose to be of service at WYD. This includes chaplains, small group leaders, first aiders, nurses and musicians.
‘Direct to Lisbon’ and ‘The Italian Way’. Under-18s can only travel if they have an Australian passport.
No, as an under-18, you will only be able to travel with the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne if you have an Australian passport.
Dates have not yet been finalised, but the retreat will be running during the school holidays and university break.
The ‘Essentials in Christian Leadership’ series will run in the first half of 2023 exclusively for WYD small-group leaders. It will be available again in the second half of 2023 for those who are interested.
Yes, each pilgrimage option has a cap set on the number who can register. Once places are filled, you may miss out on your first choice and will need to choose another option.