“The pilgrimage of WYD begins today.”
With these words, Kevin Joseph Cardinal Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, emphasized in his homily the beginning of the preparation for the physical and spiritual pilgrimage toward WYD 2027. He delivered the homily during the Opening Mass of the 2nd Preparatory Meeting of World Youth Day 2027, held from September 13–17 at Nest Hotel in Incheon, South Korea.
The delegation consisted of around 300 participants from across the world who serve as directors of national youth ministries and international coordinators of movements, associations, and communities. Two members from the Christian Life Community in the Asia-Pacific Region, namely Carol Au Yang from Taiwan and Maria Clariza Matute from the Philippines, who are both part of the Asia-Pacific Animating Team, represented CLC in the said gathering. The event was initiated by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in collaboration with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of WYD Seoul 2027.
The four-day event covered various sessions that were truly helpful and meaningful for the participants in preparation for and anticipation of the WYD gathering next year in South Korea. The topics included: 1) the significance of WYD for the universal Church, specifically for young people, and its pastoral implications; 2) the history of the Korean Catholic Church; 3) preparation for pilgrim recruitment and participation; 4) the registration system and Pilgrim’s App demonstration; 5) the Days of the Dioceses Expo and WYD events, including ocular visits to the main WYD event venues in Seoul; and 6) lastly, a taste of Korean culture through K-Cultural Night, which exposed the participants to the vibrant and colorful Korean culture.
From these various sessions presented at the meeting, three significant points emerged and are worthy of highlighting.
First, WYD is not just a mere one-time event. It is a spiritual pilgrimage that opens an opportunity to encounter God through experiences, people, and events intentionally prepared and communally discerned for young people to deepen their faith in God and appreciate the diversity of the universal Church. Hence, the WYD Organizing Committee hopes that local churches, organizations, and communities will accompany their delegates in their spiritual preparation, apart from the physical and technical aspects.
Second, WYD is an opportunity for evangelization and for carrying out the mission of the Church through youth ministry by helping young people reflect and discern personally and communally on God’s invitations through their transformative encounters and experiences at WYD.
Another important point to highlight is the significance of South Korea in the Church, being chosen by the late Pope Francis as the next host for WYD. The late Pope wanted to emphasize the role of young people in bringing the Catholic faith to South Korea. The Catholic faith in Korea was born through lay witnesses, as young scholars travelled to China, where they encountered Catholic teachings as they sought a deeper meaning and purpose in life. They discovered the truth about God through the Gospels, were baptized into the Catholic faith, and formed the first Catholic communities when they returned to Korea.
The widespread evangelization of the Catholic faith was seen as a threat by the Joseon Dynasty, in which Confucianism was the prevalent religion. Hence, many Koreans died defending their faith and suffered through more than a century of persecution. Although Catholics in South Korea remain a minority, the WYD LOC hopes that pilgrims will reflect on true reconciliation and peace by living together in harmony amidst the country’s diversity of religions, cultures, and ethnicities, and that the Gospel of Christ can shine through. (from the presentation at the 2nd Preparatory Meeting for WYD 2027)
As the Christian Life Community participates in next year’s WYD, this event may help national communities reflect on deepening the commitment of the lay faithful to the evangelization and mission of the Church, as testified by the history of Catholicism in South Korea, where the laity played a significant role in the establishment and growth of the Church. The story of the Korean Church reminds us that the mission of the Church is not carried out only by ordained ministers and religious, but also through the witness and commitment of lay people who respond to God’s call in their lives. In this sense, WYD may also be an opportunity for CLC to rediscover and strengthen the vocation of young lay people to become witnesses of Christ and active collaborators in the mission of the Church.
Furthermore, WYD is an opportunity for the young members of CLC, especially the World Youth Team, to lead an event where young people can gather and walk together, sharing their gifts, unique experiences, and faith life. More than simply organizing activities for young people, this can be an opportunity to accompany them, listen to their experiences, and help them recognize how God is working in their lives.
Lastly, we hope that through this pilgrimage, our young people may encounter Christ, experience the vibrancy and richness of the Catholic faith, and become active agents of hope in their respective communities, inspired by the Gospel and the Ignatian way of life. May their experience of WYD not end when they return home, but continue to bear fruit in their families, communities, schools, workplaces, and places of ministry.
As a way to move forward, the CLC World Youth Team, together with the Asia-Pacific Animating Team and members from CLC Korea, have started their initial meetings for the recruitment of pilgrims who will form part of the CLC delegation to WYD 2027 Seoul. It is our hope that the national communities will help us pray for and accompany our young people as they prepare to participate in this meaningful encounter.
Written by: Maria Clariza Matute (CLC Philippines)
Video compiled and edited by: Carol Au Yang (CLC Taiwan)
