MERRILLVILLE – World Youth Day is more than just a day. It is a weeklong global gathering of young Catholics from around the world hosted by a different country each time. It was started by St. Pope John Paul II in 1986, and continues to bring together young people, bishops, priests, religious sisters and brothers and the Holy Father to celebrate the Catholic faith.
The next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, Korea, from July 31-Aug. 9, 2027. This is the first time that World Youth Day will be in South Korea, and the first time in a while since it's been held in Asia. This year’s theme taken from scripture is “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
During a recent information night to discuss a trip to World Youth Day organized by the Diocese of Gary, Vicky Hathaway shared why South Korea is an interesting place for the pilgrimage and for World Youth Day. The coordinator of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese explained the country of South Korea is one of the only churches in the world catechized by itself. This means lay people laid the foundation of the Catholic church in South Korea by themselves before missionaries came.
“You had a lot of lay people, especially scholars who were reading different works about faith and about the Catholic Church,” Hathaway said. “They were really inspired by that, so they brought the faith to the people. Even before priests were even in the country, they were gathering together, praying together, reading the Gospel and living out the Gospel.”
That also led to a strong witness of martyrdom in the country. A number of martyrs were canonized along with St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Catholic Korean priest who was killed at the age of 25. Hathaway said there has been rapid, modern growth in the country when it comes to faith, and a very deep devotion in the culture among the Catholic population.
Seoul is the capital of South Korea. In comparison, geographically it's about half the size of Los Angeles. The population of South Korea is a little over 9 million, whereas the population of LA is just under 4 million. Catholics make up a little over 16 percent of the population.
As part of the diocesan trip itinerary, a few places the group will visit include The Korean Demilitarized Zone, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Park and possibly Lotte World.
Hathaway emphasized that a pilgrimage is a sacred journey. It's fostering a deeper relationship with God. She described a pilgrimage as praying with feet because “you're taking this journey of prayer and opening yourself up to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ.”
“It's a time when we step out of our ordinary life and really take some time to focus,” she said. “It's also a time of sacrificing comfort and distractions to draw ourselves closer to God.”
A pilgrimage, Hathaway noted, is not a passive experience, and acknowledged there might be some discomfort for pilgrims surrounding the amount of walking, larger crowds, weather-related scenarios, language barriers and periods of diminished sleep. While there are some challenges that come with traveling, Hathaway said there is also a lot of joy that can be experienced as well – encounters with Christ, such as meeting people along the way and different prayer experiences.
She said, “It's a really beautiful moment to practice trust in God, and putting that ‘Jesus, I trust in you’ at the forefront as you enter into a pilgrimage like this. You can also build up lifelong friendships with people that you travel with and people that you see there.”
What happens at World Youth Day? There is catechesis that occurs in the morning. Groups come together to learn and to reflect on faith in their native language. Attendees will also be able to experience the sacrament of reconciliation together. Praying the Stations of the Cross, a prayer vigil, Eucharistic adoration and a variety of Masses will also be part of the experience. A highlight, as always, is being able to be in the same space and pray with the pontiff.
“Just praying in the same space and listening to the pope speak to you, in addresses to you, is an amazing thing,” Hathaway said. “The young church is a really powerful thing. It's great to see the ‘big Church’ and see what that really looks like. The Church is made up of people from different cultures, different countries speaking in different languages, coming together, anchored in that faith. It is beautiful and moving.”
Being representatives of the diocese in a global space is also something special to be experienced, Hathaway said. She confirmed that Bishop Robert J. McClory will be joining the pilgrimage to World Youth Day and stated he is looking forward to attending, joining those from the diocese at various times throughout the week.
“He's very, very excited to be attending,” Hathaway shared. “He literally showed me that he has an app on his phone that counts down the days for different events, and he has one specifically for World Youth Day.”
Those who register to travel to World Youth Day with the diocese will receive some added information and details prior to the trip. The diocese plans to share some details regarding the culture of South Korea, how to prepare for the pilgrimage, what to pack physically and spiritually, etc.
“We're not just going to throw you in unprepared during World Youth Day,” Hathaway said. “We'll be praying together, reflecting with each other and again sharing experiences. We'll be here to help you out if there's anything that you need.”
She added that the diocese will also be helping those who experience the event to unpack what they’ve experienced.
Jackie Garcia, who attends St. Casimir in Hammond, had the opportunity to go to the last World Youth Day in 2023 and said it became one of her most memorable trips. She shared that she had the honor of seeing Pope Francis in person and very close and was able to meet several people from around the world who “share a love for Jesus and a yearning to become saints.”
“Being in a country where you don't know the language was a very fun experience,” Garcia said. “Navigating through the streets, talking to different people who don't speak the same language, was something that made this trip unlike any other that I have gone to. The beauty of the trip was that our love for God broke down all language barriers and was able to unite all of us. It was a truly memorable and beautiful trip!”
Garcia had such a fun and amazing time during the last World Youth Day that she said she can barely wait to find out what fun and amazing experiences await in the upcoming WYD. She is eager to get to know more about the Catholic traditions that are celebrated in Asia, as well as getting to experience and immerse herself in a different culture.
“What I'm looking forward to the most is to see how this trip will help me in my journey to reach heaven,” Garcia said. “I can't wait to see how my relationship with God will grow and maybe guide me a step closer to the person that God wants me to be.”
Hathaway acknowledged the trip is expensive, but said the diocese is looking into helping those serious about attending with some fundraising efforts. Transportation to and from the airport, in addition to some other perks like T-shirts and a meal plan are included in the price. Hathaway also suggested those going on the trip may want to connect with their parish regarding fundraising possibilities.
For more information and a full itinerary of the trip to World Youth Day, along with details on an Optional Pre-WYD Tour to Japan, visit https://dcgary.org/2027WYD or https://www.garyoyya.org/wyd.
