Aberdeen youth prepare for World Youth Day in Seoul

Aberdeen WYD pilgrims

A group of young people from Aberdeen are preparing for the next international World Youth Day, which is due to take place in Seoul, South Korea, in August 2027. The theme for WYD is: 'Take courage! I have overcome the world' (John 16:33), a line often quoted by Pope St John Paul II, when he established the event over 40 years ago.

Pope Leo XIV explained that the event is a pilgrimage of faith, friendship, and hope. Communicating that, "On this pilgrimage, bring all that you are and all that you carry in your hearts, including your dreams, desires, and hopes, as well as your wounds and struggles. The Lord is waiting for you in this place of encounter and communion."

Sixty one young people from the Diocese of Aberdeen will be making a pilgrimage to Japan and South Korea to learn about the heroic missionaries and martyrs who brought the faith to the Far East. Their visit will culminate in the 17th World Youth Day in Seoul. Their efforts are being supported and organised by the Dominican Sisters of St Celicia in Elgin. The sisters are well known for their exceptional youth ministry, with young people from across the geographically large diocese attending their regular meetings and events.

Sr Angela Marie said: "We'll join hundreds of thousands of Catholics as well as Pope Leo XIV at World Youth Day in Seoul, where we hope to gain a perspective on the true universality of the faith so that we can reignite our own land and the world with the passion of Christ."

In order to fund the pilgrimage, the group has been putting in the steps by undertaking several, often wet and windy, Scottish hill walks. Sr Angela Marie explains: "We accomplished sponsored walks in Aviemore, Elgin and Bennachie on 24 October-1 November and donations are very welcome to help this pilgrimage become a reality."

One of the hill walks had to be rescheduled due to an amber wind warning. Pilgrim Emma was unable to join the rescheduled date with the rest of the group. This did, however, not take away from her enthusiasm. Intending to raise the money, she instead did the same walk independently. She recalls: "It was a wonderful day for it, growing increasingly cold and windy as I approached the top. I love hiking hills and mountains anyways as it always makes me feel close to Our Lord".

For Emma, as a recent convert, the pilgrimage is something she is really looking forward to since it will be her first time attending the World Youth Day. She said: "It will be my first time doing anything like this so I have no idea what to expect! The uncertainty makes it especially exciting I think."

If you would like to support these young Catholics people and their pilgrimage, please contact Sr Angela Marie at op@rcda.scot.

or donated through:

Account Name: "Youth Pilgrimage"

Sort Code: 80 - 05 - 17

Account Number: 00760106

Reference: Donation WYD

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