Registration for World Youth Day 2013 in Brazil starts

Published September 4, 2012 1:00pm

The registration period has started for youths who want to to take part in the World Youth Day (WYD) celebration in Brazil in 2013, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.

CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta said the registration of pilgrim groups for the ECY Philippines will end on October 5 this year, while the registration of individual pilgrims will be from October 5 this year to January 31 next year.

“It is the ECY that will process the registration of the group and individual delegates who will join the ECY-Philippines delegation...," Garganta said in an article posted on the website YouthPinoy.com.

"Joining the ECY-Philippines helps prepare the delegation to be properly guided and directed. It also promotes a kind of participation that assures delegates of WYD experiences that are measured pastorally,” Garganta explained.

He said the ECY will screen pilgrims, process their visa applications, and hold pre-departure orientations and re-entry sessions for the pilgrim-delegates.

Estimated costs Garganta admitted that they expect fewer Filipino youths to take part in the upcoming WYD due to the heavy financial requirements.

YouthPinoy said the ECY estimated a pilgrim may have to spend as much as $2,965 (P124,381) for the trip. The expenses include:

$2,300 to $2,500 (P96,485 to P104,875) for airfare
$365 (P15,311) participation cost for only WYD week
$465 (P19,506) participation cost for Missionary and WYD Weeks

Last year, YouthPinoy said each of some 400 members of the ECY-Philippines delegation spent $2,000 (P83,900) for their airfare and registration costs.

Garganta said the ECY is trying to lower the expenses in joining the WYD. He urged interested participants to join the ECY-Philippines delegation because the bigger the delegation turns out, the bigger discount it can get from the travel agent.

World Youth Day

According to the website of WYD 2013, "the main goal of WYD is let youth know about Christ’s message."

WYD is celebrated "at a week-long international level every two to three years at different locations," the site said. The activities during WYD include catechesis, cultural events, sharing, Holy Mass, Papal Welcome Ceremony , Stations of the Cross, the Vigil of Youth with the Pope. The next WYD will be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from July 23-28, 2013. The last WYD was held in Madrid, Spain from August 16-21, 2011. To register, interested participants may visit the WYD 2013 website. - VVP, GMA News

Tags: cbcp, wyd2013, worldyouthday2013