World Youth Day
World Youth Day Pilgrimage
World Youth Day 2023 will take place in Lisbon (July 31st to August 7th)
Two to four million young people from around the world are expected to attend and to pray with Pope Francis.
It will be an experience of faith, fun and friendship.
Any latest news and announcements will be published below
The Cork and Ross pilgrims slept under the stars last night as they attended the evening vigil at World Youth Day
The pilgrims were blessed with a beautiful evening full of joy as they camped out with 1.5 million young people from all around the world.
The Missioning Mass was celebrated by Pope Francis this morning, bringing a close to World Youth Day in Lisbon. The next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, South Korea in 2027.
The 40 Cork and Ross pilgrims will be travelling back to Ireland tomorrow.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers for their safe return home.
Cork and Ross Pilgrims at the evening vigil on Saturday
Cork and Ross pilgrims after the catechesis on Thursday
The pilgrims were blessed on Thursday when they were blessed to see Pope Francis pass by them directly!
It was such a joy to see the Pope travel through the hundreds and thousands who gathered. In his welcome he gave the young people this message:
"We are called by God. We are loved. Also remind everyone of the beauty of being loved by God and treasured. Also ask questions of Jesus who is expecting us to speak frequently with him these days. Stay connected to him and his life - for in this way our joy will increase. I wish you a happy World Youth Day" - Pope Francis, Lisbon 3.8.23
On Friday, the Cork and Ross pilgrim's travelled to Bishop Fintan's catechesis on Friday morning, where they had adoration and reconciliation followed by Mass. They attended the Stations of the Cross at Parque Eduardo with Pope Francis in attendance.
The pilgrims are currently making their way to the evening vigil, where they will be camping out under the stars ahead of Pope Francis' Mass tomorrow morning.
Thanks to all those praying for the pilgrims back in Cork, the fruits of your prayers are showing in Lisbon!
The Cork and Ross pilgrims are continuing to have a joyous and blessed time at World Youth Day
On Wednesday, the group travelled to the Irish Rise Up Meeting, which is the world youth day model of catechesis. The biblical theme for Wednesday's catechesis was 'Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country' (Luke 1:39) and the topic for reflection was 'integral ecology'.
In the evening, the pilgrims joined all the Irish Pilgrims to attend Evening Prayer. Sarah Ryan-Purcell and Roger Power from the Cork and Ross group gave a beautiful reflection on St Finbarr and brought holy water from Gougane Barra to be mixed with water from the four provinces of Ireland.
Pope Francis arrived safely in Lisbon yesterday, and the Cork and Ross pilgrims will see him today at the official welcome ceremony.
Play the VideoThe group of 40 Cork and Ross pilgrims arrived safely in Lisbon on Monday night. After Mass at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy's Cross, the group travelled by bus to Dublin airport where each pilgrim was gifted a personalised Cork and Ross World Youth Day t-shirt and polo shirt, a bible, a journal and a booklet.
The pilgrims had an early start on Tuesday morning as they set out to collect their pilgrim packs, which consisted of a World Youth Day backpack, t-shirt, rosary beads and reusable water bottle.
They then set off to Lisbon, to the 'City of Joy' where they had free time to explore the religious and encounter events available for pilgrims.
The opening Mass at 7pm marked the official opening of World Youth Day.
Pope Francis is due to arrive iin Lisbon today. His encounter witht he young pilgrims will be the high point of World Youth Day.
Rosaleen Piero Doyle, Rebekah Dilworth, Amy Jenks, Ena O'Driscoll and Michael Collins before the WYD opening Mass.
Cork and Ross World Youth Day group beginning their pilgrimage at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy's Cross, Cork.After Mass this morning in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy’s Cross, Cork, 40 young pilgrims from parishes throughout the diocese left for World Youth Day in Lisbon.
They are accompanied by Bishop Fintan Gavin. Fr Marius O’Reilly and Fr Ronan Sheehan.
Bishop Fintan celebrated the Mass at Dennehy’s Cross and asks the whole diocese to pray for the pilgrims during the coming week and especially at Mass next weekend.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to meet and pray with Pope Francis and millions of young people from all around the world,” Bishop Fintan said.
“It will be an encounter and re-encounter with Christ and a way to be affirmed and renewed in their faith and to return here to our parishes and local Church of the Diocese of Cork and Ross with new energy and life.”
The pilgrims will send regular updates from their journey and pilgrimage back home. These will be posted on this website and on our social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram).
World Youth Day Pilgrims Roger Power, Fr Marius O'Reilly and Thomas Ferreira.
The Cork & Ross pilgrims going to World Youth Day have completed their final preparations.
On Saturday June 17th, young people from across the Diocese and beyond gathered to prepare for their upcoming trip to World Youth Day in Lisbon this August.
The preparation day took place in the beautiful Carmelite Friary, Kinsale. The event began with a welcome from Bishop Fintan Gavin, followed by multiple workshops facilitated by Cork and Ross priests Fr. Ronan Sheehan and Fr. Marius O’Reilly, UCC assistant chaplain Miriam Goulding and composer/musician Ciaran Coll. Ciaran shared a song which he composed following his pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Krakow, 2016, about the parable of the Prodigal Son.
There was a great buzz throughout the day as excitement is building for the trip in August. The pilgrims were taught the Theme Song for this World Youth Day and given the Pope’s itinerary for his time in Lisbon. The day drew to a close with the celebration of Holy Mass in the Carmelite Friary Church.
Young people from across the Diocese and beyond gathered to prepare for their upcoming trip to World Youth Day in LisbonThe Young Adults going to World Youth Day in Lisbon later in the summer recently gathered for the second time in Mardyke House in Cork City
It was a lovely evening of fellowship, sharing, prayer, and learning about the Examen form of prayer. The group are looking forward to their next gathering on Saturday 17th June in the Carmelite Friary, Kinsale for a day long retreat.
Bishop Fintan Gavin with WYD pilgrims Dean O'Brien and Sarah Ryan-Purcell.
A group of forty young people will travel to Lisbon with Bishop Fintan at the end of July to join millions of other young people from around the world for World Youth Day
World Youth Day pilgrims Jack Maguire, Sarah O'Driscoll, Emma Ryan, Roger Power, Rosaleen Piero Doyle and Sheila Kelleher.
World Youth Day pilgrims with Bishop Fintan at Mardyke House.
Recently they met in Mardyke House, Cork, to prepare for their pilgrimage and to get to know each other.
It was a wonderful evening of joy, prayer, fun and formation.
The next preparatory meeting will be on Thursday May 18th and then the group will go on a day long retreat together in June.
Ena O'Driscoll, Adam Sorenson, Joshua Taaffe, Fr. Marius O'Reilly and Catherine Collins who will all be travelling to Lisbon for World Youth Day
On July 31st a group of forty young adults will travel to Lisbon to celebrate their faith with millions of others
World Youth Day happens every three years, and it promises to be the experience of a lifetime for the young adults who will be joined by five others from the Diocese of Cloyne.
Bishop Fintan Gavin will travel with the group. They will be joined by millions of young people from around the world for World Youth Day.
World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world.
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