For questions about your registration, travel, payments, accommodation, or local preparation, please contact your group leader first. The group leader is the main communication link with the parish, diocese, eparchy, movement, community, or travel agency organizing your participation.

WYD Canada supports diocesan coordinators, movement leaders, and group leaders with national resources, recommendations, and updates, but it does not replace the local organizer of your pilgrimage.

WYD Canada is a national initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops dedicated to supporting the participation of young people from across Canada in World Youth Day.

• • national coordination and liaison with official WYD structures;
  • formation resources, recommendations, and support for leaders;
  • networking among dioceses, eparchies, movements, and communities;
  • helping Canadian pilgrims remain connected in communion.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/about/

World Youth Day is a pilgrimage designed for young adults aged 18 to 35. In accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for Canadian participation in WYD, the minimum age is 18 in order to support the safety, supervision, and accompaniment of pilgrims.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/participation-in-wyd/18-minimum-age/

In general, pilgrims should be at least 18 years old. Any exception involving a minor belongs to the local organizer, diocese, eparchy, movement, or community, according to the applicable safeguarding, supervision, insurance, and travel policies.

Families and group leaders must verify responsible ministry policies, travel agency requirements, destination-country rules, and parental consent requirements before considering an exception.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/participation-in-wyd/18-minimum-age/

WYD is designed for young adults aged 18 to 35. Group members, group leaders, and assistant leaders are ideally young adults within this age range.

Adults aged 36 and older who are trained in spiritual accompaniment may participate as spiritual companions, walking with pilgrims and supporting the young adult leadership team. Their role should promote young adult leadership and follow the safeguarding and accompaniment policies of the organizing group.

WYD is best experienced within a community: a parish, diocese, youth group, movement, campus ministry, or Catholic community. A pilgrimage is not simply an individual trip; it is prepared and lived with others.

Here are a few steps:

1. 1. Ask your parish, diocese, youth group, or movement whether a group is planning to attend WYD.
   2. Ask whether you can join a group in your area.
   3. If you still cannot find a group, take initiative and form one with friends, fellow parishioners, or members of your community.
   4. Once your group begins to take shape, inform your diocese and stay connected with WYD Canada for national resources and updates.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/going-to-wyd/

Participating in WYD requires personal, spiritual, and physical preparation. Pilgrims are asked to carefully assess their ability to undertake an international pilgrimage involving long days, a lot of walking, demanding schedules, group living, prayer, formation, and intercultural encounters.

Participants are invited to come with a pilgrim spirit rather than that of a tourist, a willingness to grow personally and spiritually, the ability to live in community with respect and maturity, and openness to the guidance of the leadership team.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/pilgrim-profile/

A group can begin with two or three people who want to go. For pastoral care and logistics, WYD Canada recommends keeping groups small and manageable, ideally 10 to 12 pilgrims or fewer per group.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/going-to-wyd/

Yes. Every group begins with one person who says yes. If you are few in number, start small: invite a friend, spread the word in your parish or community, and inform your diocese once the group begins to take shape.

You can also ask your diocese, parish, or movement whether there is already a group you could join.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/going-to-wyd/

The exact criteria depend on the diocese, eparchy, movement, parish, or community organizing the group. WYD Canada recommends:

• • small, well-supported groups, ideally 10 to 12 pilgrims or fewer;
  • a group leader and, when possible, an assistant leader;
  • a trained spiritual companion when appropriate;
  • spiritual and community preparation before departure;
  • clear communication with the local diocese and with WYD Canada.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/group-recommendations/

WYD Canada recommends adapting roles to your local context while ensuring strong spiritual, pastoral, and logistical support.

• • Group Leader: the main contact with the parish, diocese, community, or travel agency; tracks registrations and payments; ensures that the leadership team is ready.
  • Assistant Leader: supports the leader, participates in preparation, and can step in when the leader is absent.
  • Spiritual Companion: cares for the spiritual health of the group, offers pastoral listening, leads prayer, and supports young adult leadership.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/group-recommendations/

Begin in your local setting: parish, diocese, movement, campus ministry, or community. WYD is best prepared within the communities that know the pilgrims and will continue accompanying them after they return home.

If you want to form or accompany a group, inform your diocese and contact WYD Canada so you can remain connected to the wider Canadian pilgrimage, resources, and national updates.

1. 1. Inform your parish, diocese, eparchy, movement, or community.
   2. Clearly identify the group leader, assistant leader, and spiritual companion when needed.
   3. Prepare a plan for formation, prayer, communication, and fundraising.
   4. Stay connected with WYD Canada to receive resources, updates, and invitations to national information sessions.

There is no single ideal model. Dioceses, eparchies, movements, associations, parishes, and communities can choose a model that fits their pastoral and logistical reality.

• • Delegation: many local groups journey under one coordinating structure.
  • Regional Delegation: several dioceses or movements collaborate for logistics while keeping their own identity.
  • Communion Model: groups may travel differently while remaining linked to a common pilgrimage identity.
  • Host Delegation: an established structure welcomes groups from other dioceses or communities.
  • Diocesan Pilgrimage: one diocesan group journeys together.
  • Sending Diocese: the diocese supports and blesses groups that organize their own participation.
  • Independent Group: a parish, movement, campus ministry, or community organizes its own participation.

https://www.wydcanada.org/en/models/

The best model is the one that serves young people effectively, strengthens communion with the local Church, respects the charism of participating communities, remains sustainable for leaders, and promotes both pilgrimage and discipleship.

WYD Canada can accompany leaders in this discernment by offering resources, recommendations, and networking opportunities.

Basic accommodation usually refers to the simple, shared accommodations associated with WYD: gymnasiums, schools, parish halls, host families, or other communal spaces, often with sleeping on the floor. This is part of the WYD experience of simplicity, sobriety, and communion.

Accommodations during Diocesan Days are normally assigned by the host diocese. Accommodations during WYD Week are assigned by the official WYD organizers according to their own timelines and criteria.

Groups may communicate needs when the process allows, but the final decision belongs to the responsible organizers.

Usually, no. Basic accommodations are assigned by the responsible organizers. Once assignments are made, changes may be very limited or impossible.

This information is shared according to the timeline of the official WYD organizers or host diocese. Your group leader will communicate details once they become available.

Some organizers or travel agencies may offer packages with hotel accommodations, often to provide greater comfort during part of the pilgrimage. Inclusions, cost, location, and conditions vary by package. Pilgrims should verify details with their group leader or travel agency.

Apply for your passport as soon as possible and inform your group leader. Your registration may sometimes begin with a temporary document or the information available, but this depends on the platform and organizer. Any difference between submitted information and the final passport may require corrections or fees.

Pilgrims traveling with a non-Canadian passport, or who do not hold Canadian citizenship, are responsible for checking entry, exit, and transit requirements for all countries involved. This may include visas, electronic travel authorizations, residency documents, or other requirements.

The pilgrim is responsible for checking whether a visa is required and completing the necessary steps. The group leader or travel agency may be able to provide supporting documents, but the application remains the traveler’s responsibility.

This depends on your citizenship, passport, transit countries, destination country, and length of stay. Check the requirements with the embassies, consulates, or official authorities of the countries involved.

Depending on your group process, you may receive proof of pilgrimage registration, package or itinerary confirmation, accommodation confirmation, or a support letter. These documents are generally provided only after confirmed registration, the required deposit, and a valid passport copy.

Begin the process as early as possible. Obtaining a visa can take several weeks or months. It is important to wait until you have the necessary documents before submitting an application, because an incomplete application can be delayed or refused.