Young people from across the Diocese of Wollongong are invited to join our diocesan pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. World Youth Day is a global gathering of young Catholics from around the world, offering pilgrims a unique opportunity to encounter Christ, deepen their faith, experience the universal Church, and journey together with the Holy Father.
In 2027, WYD will be held in Seoul from Tuesday 3 August to Sunday 8 August, with the official theme: “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
For our diocesan pilgrimage, we will journey under the theme:
Pilgrimage of Peace
This pilgrimage will include time visiting significant Catholic sites in South Korea, World Youth Day week in Seoul, and a post-WYD retreat before returning home.
Fr James will accompany pilgrims as one of the spiritual leaders of the diocesan pilgrimage, helping guide the group through prayer, formation, the sacraments and the experience of World Youth Day.
Fr James is a priest of the Diocese of Wollongong and currently serves as Assistant Priest at St Michael’s Parish, Nowra. He brings a love for the Church, a heart for young people, and a steady pastoral presence to the pilgrimage.
Arnie Hurdoyal
Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Coordinator
Arnie will help coordinate and lead the pilgrimage, supporting pilgrims throughout the journey and helping young people from across the Diocese enter fully into the WYD experience.
Arnie is the Youth & Young Adult Coordinator for the Diocese of Wollongong, helping create opportunities for young people to encounter Christ and embrace the life of the Church. He brings a passion for leading others to live life to the full in Christ, a gift for light-heartedness on long trips, and his own experience of attending World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.
Where are we heading?
The diocesan pilgrimage will include a South Korea tour, World Youth Day week in Seoul, and a post-WYD retreat.
Arrival
Friday 30 July 2027
Pilgrims will arrive in South Korea before beginning a three-day tour of significant Catholic and cultural sites.
Suwon
In Suwon, pilgrims will visit Mirinae Shrine, the burial place of St Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean-born Catholic priest and one of the Korean Martyrs. They will also visit Namyang Virgin Mary Shrine, a place of prayer and devotion honouring Our Lady, connected to Korea’s Catholic story of faith, suffering and hope.
Jeonju
In Jeonju, pilgrims will visit Shinri Martyrs’ Shrine and Haemi Martyrs’ Shrine, two significant places of remembrance connected to the witness of the Korean martyrs and the Catholics who gave their lives for the faith during times of persecution.
Seoul
Pilgrims will then continue to Seoul for World Youth Day week, joining young Catholics from around the world for prayer, catechesis, festival events and major gatherings with Pope Leo XIV. As the centre of WYD 2027, Seoul will become a place of encounter, faith and celebration, bringing together the local Church in Korea and the wider universal Church.
South Korea Tour
Location
Details
Suwon
Pilgrims will visit Mirinae Shrine, the burial place of St Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean-born Catholic priest and one of the Korean Martyrs. They will also visit Namyang Virgin Mary Shrine, a place of prayer and devotion honouring Our Lady, connected to Korea’s Catholic story of faith, suffering and hope.
Jeonju
Pilgrims will visit Shinri Martyrs’ Shrine and Haemi Martyrs’ Shrine, two significant places of remembrance connected to the witness of the Korean martyrs and the Catholics who gave their lives for the faith during times of persecution.
Seoul
Pilgrims will then continue to Seoul for World Youth Day week, joining young Catholics from around the world for prayer, catechesis, festival events and major gatherings with the Pope Leo XIV. As the centre of WYD 2027, Seoul will become a place of encounter, faith and celebration, bringing together the local Church in Korea and the wider universal Church.
World Youth Day Week
3–8 August 2027
Tuesday
3 August
Opening Ceremony
Wednesday–Friday
4–6 August
Catechesis, Youth Festival events and Stations of the Cross
Pilgrims will take part in prayer, formation, cultural events, youth gatherings and opportunities to meet young Catholics from around the world.
Saturday
7 August
City pilgrimage, arrival of the Holy Father and global sleep-out
Sunday
8 August
World Youth Day Papal Mass
The WYD week will conclude with the final Mass with the Pope Leo XIV and pilgrims from across the world.
Post-WYD Retreat
Following World Youth Day week, pilgrims will take part in a two-day post-WYD retreat.
This will be a chance to rest, pray, reflect and begin discerning how God may be calling each pilgrim to bring the graces of WYD back into their own life, parish and community.
Departure
Wednesday 11 August 2027
Pricing
The estimated cost for the diocesan pilgrimage is:
$5,560
This includes the South Korea Tour, World Youth Day week and Post-WYD Retreat
The pilgrimage cost includes:
International airfare to and from Seoul
Airport transfers to and from Seoul Incheon Airport
Fully escorted touring throughout the days of travel prior to WYD week
Multi-share accommodation in 3-star hotels
Meals as specified: breakfast, lunch and dinner
WYD registration, including meal tickets and transport vouchers
A single supplement cost will be provided separately.
The pilgrimage cost does not include:
Travel insurance
Passport and visa costs, if applicable
Meals not stated in the itinerary
Drinks with meals
Items of a personal nature
Key dates
Date
Milestone
Saturday 24 May 2026
Pilgrimage launch day
Monday 3 August 2026
One year until WYD
Earlybird applications due with holding deposit
Wednesday 28 October 2026
WYD Information Night
Friday 6 November 2026
All applications due
March 2027
First pilgrim formation session
Apply now
Applications are now open for the Diocese of Wollongong’s World Youth Day 2027 pilgrimage to Seoul.
Young people are invited to prayerfully consider joining this journey of faith, peace, courage and encounter.
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Our diocesan logo is theologically rich and very succinct. As a hand, it depicts our mission as a diocese and as individuals within the diocese, of bearing (bringing, carrying) Christ’s love to one another and to the world around us. In this, we are the hand of Jesus Christ, and we are offering ourselves to him so that he might work through us.
We can be the bearers of his love only as a response to his call and in the strength of his grace. We are reminded of this in two ways—through the symbol of the dove (the Holy Spirit) also present in the logo, and by the incorporation of the cross that segments the logo. The presence of the cross is a reminder that bearing the love of Christ will inevitably cost us if we live it authentically. However, in the way that the Cross is the portent of redemption and life—an echo of the tree of life in the book of Genesis—so becoming bearers of the love of Christ will also bring us to life.
The four fingers of the hand also represent the four regions of our diocese. The first is bluerepresenting the beautiful water of the Shoalhaven. The second is a blue and green combination representing the waters and escarpment of the Illawarra. The third is greendepicting the hills and plains of the Macarthur. The fourth is dark green illustrating the forests of the Southern Highlands.
