World Youth Day 23

Welcome to the information, formation and resource page for the North Queensland Education pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, Portugal and the Holy Land, in August, 2023.

Pilgrimage offers pilgrims unique opportunities for spiritual renewal and wellbeing. Harvest Journeys will take pilgrims on a journey to sites where the physical meets the spiritual and the extraordinary enters the ordinary. They partner with the world’s best pilgrim ground-operators and guides who share a passion for the sacred and impart knowledge about holy and historical sites, expertise about local cuisine and customs, and provide a welcoming experience and unique care and insight at each stage of the journey.

Pilgrims will depart Australia from Brisbane on Saturday, 29 July for Portugal and return from Jerusalem on Wednesday, 16 August, arriving Brisbane Thursday 17 August, after journeying through Lisbon, Fatima, Bethlehem, Jericho, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Tabor, Caesarea Philippi, Mount of Beatitudes, Haifa, Mount Carmel, Caesarea Maritima and Jerusalem. 

Should you require further information please contact the Pilgrimage Coordinator Louise Vella-Cox on 0408 294 705 or lvellacox@tsv.catholic.org.au 

WYD Portugal Holy Land Pilgrimage ITINERARY

Travel info

Monday - 7th August

• Departure from Lisbon at 01:00 am via coach to Madrid Airport (8-hour journey).
• Flight departing from Madrid Airport - Iberia Airlines IB3980 at 11.40am 
• Arrival Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport at 5.25pm

Accomodation

Key People

Louise Vella-Cox
Pilgrimage Coordinator - TSV
E: lvellacox@tsv.catholic.edu.au
M: 0408 294 705

Ian Davis
Pilgrimage Coordinator - CNS
E: idavis@cns.catholic.edu.au
M: 0407 121 044

Fr Joseph Reddy Dondeti SVD
Chaplain
E: jrdondeti@tsv.catholic.org.au 
M: 0435 036 823

Formation and Resources

Important Links

World Youth Day Lisbon website 
World Youth Day Lisbon YouTube Channel 
WYD23 Lisbon Facebook
Visit Portugal 
Visit Lisbon  
Holy Land Sites
Smart Traveller 
Harvest Journeys 
Holy Land Prayer and Reflection guide

Key Events and Information

Opening Mass and WYD Vigil locations announced

Because World Youth Day is inspired by Mary, who rose and set out in haste to meet her cousin Elizabeth, because it will take place in Lisbon, known as the city of the "Seven Hills," and because we want this to be a time of encounter and grace for all who participate, Park Edward VII will be called "Colina do Encontro" and Tagus Park will be called "Campo da Graça”.

The name "Colina do Encontro" evokes the encounter with the Living Christ, the first objective of the World Youth Day. Then, it evokes the experience of the young Church in Lisbon, which wants to go out to meet everyone. It also evokes the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, a true intergenerational encounter, marked by joy. "Meeting Hill" also recalls the meeting of Pope Saint John Paul II, the much revered founder of WYD, with Lisbon in 1982, in Parque Eduardo VII. It will be in this same location that young people will meet Pope Francis for the first time at WYD Lisbon 2023.

The name "Campo da Graça" comes from the fact that the pilgrims will head to Tagus Park in thanksgiving to celebrate the Vigil and the Final Mass of a week that will surely remain in the hearts of all forever. WYD is, in the words of Pope Francis, "an event of grace that awakens, broadens the horizon, strengthens the aspirations of the heart, helps to dream, to look beyond.

The WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation wishes that these names – Colina do Encontro and Campo da Graça - may endure in the memory of all those who will participate in the largest gathering of young people from around the world with the Pope and, most especially, in the hearts of all the inhabitants of the city of Lisbon and Loures.

Australian Pilgrim Gathering

At World Youth Day 23 in Lisbon, there will be more than 3000 pilgrims from across Australia.  Traditionally, there is an opportunity for Australian Pilgrims to gather and celebrate together.  

Date & Time:
Tuesday 1 August
Time: 2pm-4pm
Various Australian Bishops, pilgrims, and musicians Gen Bryant, Simon Hyland and Fr Rob Galea will be performing. 
Note: the Opening Mass is schedule to begin at 7pm. See transport information below which ensures a suitable arrival time at Parque Edwardo VII

Location:
Park Quinta das Conchas: https://goo.gl/maps/5FnaLrRmjTdckzsQA

Transport:
Quinta das Conchas train station is nearby (400m, 5 min walk): https://goo.gl/maps/e4ZsWMzS7xSEQtdt7
The train station is on the yellow line, and has a direct line to Marques de Pombal (station at Parque Edwardo VII) approx. 20 mins https://goo.gl/maps/kA9EBVt5dpMP3fP67
It may take several trains over an hour for all Australians to travel to the opening mass. (please note the yellow line if currently under maintenance and won’t show up on transport searches. Please allow another few days or a week before you review train times)

Official Schedule for Pope's WYD Visit

Official Pilgrim Kit

Travel Tips

Public Transport in Lisbon, Portugal

One of the best ways to discover Lisbon is on foot. It’s s often more stimulating to walk from one attraction to the next than use public transport.

How to Use Public Transport in Lisbon: The Complete Guide
Viva Viagem travel card

Overseas Power Tips

Here is some information for Power needs for Portugal  and Israel

Harvest Journeys Location Risks

Introduction

Harvest Journeys have assessed a variety of risks associated with the programme of pilgrimages that have been developed in conjunction with World Youth Day Lisbon 2023.

The risk assessments have been completed based upon the experience of the Harvest Journeys management team and leverage information provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and other publicly available travel risk, health and safety information. In addition, Harvest Journeys have long standing relationships with a network of ground transport and travel operators within each location that pilgrimages will visit and work closely with these operators to enable ‘on the ground’ risk and incident management takes place to ensure the safety of Pilgrims.

The following information is provided for information as at May 2023. Please note that this information is provided for guidance only and does not replace Australian or Foreign Government travel advice / warnings that may take place between now and the departure of pilgrimages.

Note: Covid-19 Advice

Please note, previous versions of this document included Covid specific health advice that has been removed due to a significant shift in the global travel and health position over the last 6-12 months. While border closures due to the pandemic would appear to present a much lower risk than previously, some countries still have healthcare systems under pressure in the period following very high Covid related hospitalisation rates. Similar health and well-being behaviour exercised in Australia should apply at all times while travelling.

Please read this Risk Assessment document as prepared by Harvest Journeys - View here

Local Diocesan Risk Assessment

The document reflects first, the work that Louise and I have done in relation to the general and possible risks we may face on our journey.

This section looks at the possible risks and how to manage them.  Again as we are all adults, you may know there are some that you need to take greater care with and some that will be specific to you personally.  You should consider these as well.

The second section of the document contains phone numbers for consulates in the countries we are going to and the current DFAT advice.  We are aware of protests in Jerusalem and the warning for Jericho and Bethlehem.  We are in contact with Harvest. They currently have 100 groups in the Holy Land, and we will follow their advice as they are currently on the ground and know exactly what is happening first hand.

Download here.