“Don’t be afraid to change the world”
Pope tells youth at WYD closing Mass. Read more here. (Cath News)
The next WYD will be in Seoul, South Korea in 2027. The announcement was made by Pope Francis at the end of the Lisbon WYD Missioning Mass. Learn more
Read and watch the speeches and addresses of Pope Francis from the World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.
Five people from the Diocese of Ballarat attended WYD 2023.
See highlights here
- Grace Doherty and Anna Whiting (St Mary MacKillop College Swan Hill students);
- Gerry Vytilingam (St Mary MacKillop College Swan Hill staff member);
- John-Paul Walker (Linton & Sebastopol Parishes);
- Laura Bruty (Linton Parish & Australian Catholic University Ballarat Campus)
Grace, Gerry, John-Paul and Laura along with a group of young adults from the Sandhurst Diocese joined hundreds and thousands of pilgrims from dioceses around the World at World Youth Day events in Lisbon, where they are participating in five days of worship, activities, and fellowship. Read more
Read more about the journey of our pilgrims from diocesan e-News:
- Laura Bruty (e-News July 2023)
- Grace Doherty, Anna Whiting & Gerry Vytilingam – St Mary MacKillop College Swan Hill (e-News May 2023)
- John-Paul Walker
More than 2500 World Youth Day pilgrims from Australia and Oceania who gathered for WYD have been told that they will “do great things” as the global Catholic celebration commenced in Lisbon, Portugal.
Read more here (ACBC Media Blog).
The official prayer for World Youth Day Lisbon 2023
Our Lady of the Visitation,
you who left in haste towards the mountain to meet Elizabeth,
lead us also to meet all those who await us
to deliver them the living Gospel:
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord!
We will go in a hurry, with no distraction or delay,
but with readiness and joy.
We will go peacefully, because those who take Christ take peace,
and welldoing is the best wellbeing.
Our Lady of the Visitation,
with your inspiration, this World Youth Day
will be the mutual celebration of the Christ we take, as You once did.
Make it a time of testimony and sharing,
fraternization, and giving thanks,
each of us looking for the others who always wait.
With you, we will continue on this path of gathering,
so that our world will gather as well,
in fraternity, justice and peace.
Help us, Our Lady of the Visitation,
to bring Christ to everyone, obeying the Father, in the love of the Spirit!
Lisbon, Portugal
1 – 6 August, 2023
World Youth Day (WYD) is a worldwide encounter with the Pope, typically celebrated every three years. This encounter, intended for ages 15-35, can be in person on pilgrimage to the host nation or it can be World Youth Day at home.
You can get the latest WYD news and information here
Meet the creators of the Lisbon 2023 theme song
you who left in haste towards the mountain to meet Elizabeth,
lead us also to meet all those who await us
to deliver them the living Gospel:
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord!
We will go in a hurry, with no distraction or delay,
but with readiness and joy.
We will go peacefully, because those who take Christ take peace,
and welldoing is the best wellbeing.
Our Lady of the Visitation,
with your inspiration, this World Youth Day
will be the mutual celebration of the Christ we take, as You once did.
Make it a time of testimony and sharing,
fraternization, and giving thanks,
each of us looking for the others who always wait.
With you, we will continue on this path of gathering,
so that our world will gather as well,
in fraternity, justice and peace.
Help us,
Our Lady of the Visitation,
to bring Christ to everyone, obeying the Father, in the love of the Spirit!
For more information contact Ballarat Diocese Youth & Young Adult Ministry email: youth@ballarat.catholic.org.au
South Korea to host World Youth Day in 2027
The next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027, Pope Francis announced at the conclusion of the final Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon. Source: CNA. Read more here
World Youth Day 2019 – Panama
January 2019
Events are available for viewing on demand:
World Youth Day 2016 – Krakow
July 2016
Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive Mercy Matthew 5:7
- Event Videos
- Pilgrimage photos & stories “An Unforgettable Faith Experience”
- The Pope’s Homilies and Addresses
- Prayer
Our pilgrims were from Mildura, Horsham, Portland, Casterton, Warrnambool, Timboon and many of the parishes in the Ballarat city area. Pilgrims included a number of young teachers from St Joseph’s Primary and Emmanuel College in Warrnambool, and Lumen Christi, St Francis Xavier, St Thomas More and St Patrick’s Primary in Ballarat.