Young Catholics from across the Archdiocese are being encouraged to register for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, before the deadline of Friday 6 November.
The Archdiocese is organising a pilgrimage for those aged 19–35, taking place from 1–9 August 2027.
World Youth Day is one of the largest gatherings of young Catholics in the world, bringing together pilgrims from different countries to celebrate their faith, meet other young people and join the Pope for prayer and Mass.
The 2027 gathering will be the first World Youth Day held in South Korea and the second in Asia, following Manila in 1995.
Preparing for Seoul
Sr Rian van Berkum, the Archdiocesan Youth Co-ordinator, recently visited Seoul to see preparations for the event and learn more about what pilgrims can expect.
She said: “It was exciting to visit Seoul and see where our young people will be travelling next year.
“World Youth Day is a wonderful opportunity to experience the universal Church, meet young Catholics from around the world and grow in faith.
“I would really encourage anyone who is thinking about going to take this opportunity. It promises to be a memorable experience.”
World Youth Day 2027
World Youth Day was established by Pope St John Paul II in 1985, with the first international gathering taking place in Rome in 1986.
Since then, major international celebrations have been held in cities around the world, including Sydney, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Kraków, Panama City and Lisbon.
The most recent international World Youth Day took place in Lisbon in 2023, when Pope Francis joined young Catholics for a series of events culminating in a closing Mass attended by an estimated 1.5 million people.
The theme for Seoul 2027 is “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The gathering will offer pilgrims opportunities for prayer, catechesis, cultural activities and encounters with Catholics from across the world.
How to register
The Archdiocesan pilgrimage takes place from 1–9 August 2027 and is open to young adults aged 19–35.
The approximate cost is £3,000 per person, including flights, accommodation and meals.
The deadline for registration is Friday 6 November 2026. To register, visit https://bit.ly/archwyd.
For enquiries, email youth.office@staned.org.uk.
