1 August 2023

Young Catholics from around the world are gathering for the beginning of World Youth Day, and a large contingent of pilgrims from Melbourne are front and centre for the experience.

Following years of careful planning, almost 600 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s four groups – Direct to Lisbon, The Italian Way, Footsteps of Jesus and Our Emerging Leaders Program – will gather in Lisbon, Portugal, for the first World Youth Day since 2019. In the lead-up to the six-day event, pilgrims from Melbourne have already had a variety of experiences, including time in the Holy Land, a candlelight procession in Fatima and an audience with Pope Francis.

A series of large events will take place across the week:

• Tuesday 1 August, 7.00 pm (AEST Wednesday 2 August, 4.00 am): Opening Mass
• Thursday 3 August, 5.45 pm (AEST Friday 4 August, 2.45 am): Welcome Ceremony
• Friday 4 August, 6.00 pm (AEST Saturday 5 August, 3.00 am): Way of the Cross
• Saturday 5 August, 8.45 pm (AEST Sunday 6 August, 5.45 am): Vigil
• Sunday 6 August, 9.00 am (AEST Sunday 6 August, 6.00 pm): Missioning Mass.

In addition to these events, Rise Up Encounters (a new model of World Youth Day catechesis), City of Joy (various experiences of true Christian joy under which young people will be provoked to face their own life and their way as a response to a God who calls each one by name) and the Youth Festival (music, cinema, exhibitions, theatre, dance, conferences and religious events) will take place during the week.

To keep up with the news from World Youth Day as it happens, visit Melbourne Catholic Schools on Instagram via www.instagram.com/melbournecatholicschools.