Diocese planning trip for World Youth Day 2023

Always wanted to party with the Pope? Now, here’s your chance.

The Albany Diocese is organizing a trip to World Youth Day (WYD) 2023, a Catholic festival held in Lisbon, Portugal. 

World Youth Day, which was originally scheduled to be celebrated in summer 2022 but moved to next year, was announced by Pope Francis and Cardinal Kevin Farrell at the end of the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2019 in Panama City, Panama.

WYD is designed to be a worldly celebration of young people from all walks of life, countries and cultures united by one Church. The WYD website describes the festival as “a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world.”

The trip runs from July 29-Aug. 7, 2023, and is open to anyone 18 and older, but encouraged for youth and young adults. The festival includes Mass at St. Stephens Church in Portugal, prayer and meditation at one of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition sites in Fatima, teachings about the faith from various bishops across the globe, Stations of the Cross with the Holy Father, music shows, speakers and more. 

The Albany Diocese group has 20 open slots. Final prices may vary but are estimated to be $4,000 a person, which includes travel to Lisbon, travel in Portugal, hotel, some meals, the registration fee for WYD, as well as several special events 

during the visit. For questions or more information, contact David Stagliano, diocesan coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at [email protected] or at (518) 453-6610.