The Diocese of Gary Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization will be coordinating a pilgrimage to Seoul, South Korea for the next World Youth Day, held in the summer of 2027. Join Bishop McClory and other young people from the Diocese of Gary for this once in a life time opportunity.
WYD Dates: We are anticipating that WYD 2027 will take place in the summer of 2027.
Location: WYD 2027 will take place in Seoul, South Korea.
Age: The target age for WYD is for people out of high school, aged 18-35. While in the U.S. “youth” is often associated with adolescents, it is more commonly used to identify college/20-somethings internationally. If you are interested in attending the pilgrimage but are not in that age range, please reach out to Vicky Hathaway for more information.
WYD Formation: As part of the pilgrimage, we will have regular pilgrimage formation gatherings. Dates will be released in May, 2026. We will also host a gathering to unpack the pilgrimage upon our return.
Optional Pre-WYD Tour to Japan: Departs July 26, 2027
Extension includes 1 night in Tokyo and 4 nights in Nagasaki
Price: We are once again partnering with our trusted travel agency, Dube Travel, for this pilgrimage. At this time, we anticipate the cost of the core pilgrimage to be approximately $5,000 per person. We will also offer an optional pre–World Youth Day trip to Japan for an additional $1,500 per person.
The overall cost is largely influenced by international airfare. If you are seriously considering joining us, we strongly encourage you to begin saving now or begin considering fundraising options.
Estimated Costs
Core Pilgrimage: $5,000 per person
Optional Japan Add-On: $1,500 per person
Deposit: $500 per person due at registration
Please note that final pricing cannot be guaranteed until all trip components are paid in full and airline tickets have been issued. While land arrangements in South Korea (hotels and services) have been confirmed and contracted, they remain subject to currency exchange rates between the Korean won and U.S. dollar until fully paid. Airlines also reserve the right to adjust pricing, including potential fuel surcharges, at the time of ticketing.
For these reasons, Dube Travel maintains the right to adjust pricing if necessary based on exchange rates or airline changes.
Accommodations: We will be staying in hotels throughout our pilgrimage. Each pilgrim will have a roommate. One night of the pilgrimage will include sleeping outside as part of the pilgrimage experience. More information can be found in the schedule.
What is included in the cost:
- Cost of the flight and hotel transfers
- Introduction City Tour of Seoul
- Visit to DMZ and other historical sites
- Hotels (double occupancy, breakfast included)
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Services of Dube travel
- Cost of the WYD registration package
- Government and hotel taxes
- Some meals
Does Not Include:
- Some meals
- Personal spending money
- Passport fees
- Travel insurance
Required Documents
- Valid passport (6 months beyond return date)
- Emergency contact information
Fundraising
- The Diocese is working to offset some shared group costs, such as transportation to and from the airport, a group t-shirt, and other helpful items.
- Pilgrims are responsible for their own fundraising
- Parish support is highly encouraged
- Fundraising guide and letter template available here
How do I sign up? Registration is open!
Two information nights were held in February, 2026. Recordings of those meetings will be made available soon!
Please click here if you would like to learn more about the pilgrimage. You can also reach out to Vicky Hathaway at vhathaway@dcgary.org or call 219-769-9292 ext. 229 if you have any questions. Are you a parish/ministry leader looking to take a group? We would be happy to come do a presentation for you group.
USCCB WYD Website: wydusa.org
Information Meeting Recordings
This video is for someone who is looking for a broad overview of:
-
- What WYD is
- What the pilgrimage experience might look like
- Logistics and payment information
This video is for someone who is looking for specifics details about:
- Our travel agent, Dube Travel
- History of WYD
- Contingencies and unknowns (such as airfare or event locations).
- Airline strategy and flight timelines
- Hotel districts in Seoul
- DMZ visit plans, Japan add-on structure, an other possible plans
- Deposit amounts and payment schedule
- Travel insurance options
- Registration timing benchmarks
World Youth Day (WYD) is an international gathering of young Catholics from around the world to pray, celebrate the faith, and encounter Jesus Christ together with the Holy Father.
Our Diocesan package is $5000 for the Seoul pilgrimage.
For the optional Japan pre-WYD pilgrimage, it is an additional $1500.
Included in the price:
- Cost of the flight and hotel transfers
- Introduction City Tour of Seoul
- Visit to DMZ
- Hotels (double occupancy, breakfast included)
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Services of Dube travel
- Cost of the WYD registration package
- This includes a pilgrims pack
- Meal Plan for the week (in the past, it was lunch and dinner options at participating restaurants or markets)
- A metro card to take public transportation in Seoul
- Registration for the event itself
- Government and hotel taxes
- Most meals (some lunches and dinner are on your own, especially if you are exploring the various locations or if you want to eat at a restaurant not included in your meal package)
WYD 2027 will take place in Seoul, South Korea.
WYD is intended for young adults typically between the ages of 18–35 (18 year old’s need to be graduated from high school to be considered a young adult). Adult leaders, clergy, religious brothers and sisters, and older pilgrimage may attend, understanding the nature of the event (lots of walking, late nights). Teenagers 16-18, still in high school are considered minors and must travel with a parent or guardian.
While a Catholic event, you do not need to be Catholic to participate.
WYD is a Catholic event, but young adults open to participating in the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage are welcome. If you are not Catholic, we can help you understand what is happening and the spiritual significance of what is happening.
While some details are being finalized, the proposed itinerary for the pilgrimage can be found here.
Yes! We are happy to announce that Bishop Robert J. McClory will be joining us as we travel to World Youth Day. We will also have a few diocesan priests joining us.
For planning purposes, we ask that you register by May, 2026. Registration will stay open for as long as possible pending on the availability of flights and hotels.
Yes. Your passport must be valid at least six months beyond the return date of travel.
Yes. Pilgrims will be able to make payments through a scheduled payment plan leading up to the pilgrimage.
A deposit of $500 per person is due upon registration.
Quarterly payments of $500 will be due on the following dates:
- May 15, 2026
- September 15, 2026
- December 15, 2026
- March 15, 2026
FINAL BALANCE DUE May 15, 2027
No. Deposits for the World Youth Day pilgrimage are non-refundable. This is because the travel agency must place non-refundable deposits with hotels and airlines in order to secure accommodations and flights for the group.
Pilgrims who are concerned about the possibility of canceling may wish to consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance may provide reimbursement in certain situations; however, refunds are typically only granted for covered reasons as defined by the insurance policy.
We strongly encourage all participants to carefully review the terms of any travel insurance policy they are considering.
At this time, the Diocese of Gary is not able to offer scholarships or financial assistance for the World Youth Day pilgrimage. However, many pilgrims successfully raise support through parish fundraisers, sponsorship letters to family and friends, and local fundraising events. We are happy to provide resources and ideas to help pilgrims with their fundraising efforts.
The Diocese is working to offset some shared group costs, such as transportation to and from the airport, a group t-shirt, and other helpful items.
Yes. Please let us know and we can talk to our travel agent about land-only pricing. You would be required to find your own transportation to meet up with the group once the pilgrimage begins.
We will be staying in 3-4 star hotels while on the pilgrimage. Each pilgrim will have a roommate. One night of the pilgrimage will include sleeping outside as part of the pilgrimage experience. More information can be found in the schedule.
Yes. Pilgrims will participate in formation meetings to help prepare spiritually, culturally, and practically for the journey.
Yes! We love parish groups. Check in with Vicky (vhathaway@dcgary.org) to learn more.
Major WYD events include the Opening Mass, catechesis sessions with bishops, cultural events, Eucharistic adoration opportunities, the Vigil with the Holy Father, and the Final Mass with the Pope.
World Youth Day is a powerful opportunity to deepen your relationship with Christ, experience the global Church, and be inspired to live your faith more fully.
