NZ priest discusses WYD collaboration with Aussies

By CathNews New Zealand

August 7th, 2026

Fr Thomas Park (Catholic Youth Australia/Facebook)

Auckland priest Fr Thomas Park and Catholic Youth Australia have explored opportunities for collaboration in the 12 months leading up to World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea.

Catholic Youth Australia said it had discussed “insights from our preparations with our bishops” with Fr Park.

Fr Park, who is parish administrator at Sts Joseph and Joachim Parish in Otahuhu, was part of a delegation from Aotearoa New Zealand that made an exploratory visit to South Korea earlier this year.

Catholic Youth Australia also held an online gathering of the national WYD coordinators, focusing on formation through the theme, “Building a Lifelong Spiritual Experience”.

“Together, we reflected on the pilgrimage, the importance of formation for both leaders and pilgrims, key roles for inclusion in our leadership structure and the key elements to include throughout our sessions,” the group explained.

The South Korea Local Organising Committee for WYD 2027 announced that it is “moving preparations from groundwork to full implementation across international cooperation, pilgrim services, accommodation, transportation, safety, medical care and communications”, Catholic World News reported.

“With one year to go until the start of World Youth Day Seoul 2027, the young people who will be traveling to Korea alongside their pastors are increasingly at the heart of the preparations for the event,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

FULL STORY

Our journey towards WYD continues! (Catholic Youth Australia/Facebook)

1 year to World Youth Day 2027 (Catholic World News)

Kiwis travel to Seoul to make preparations for WYD 2027 (CathNews New Zealand)

Organizers unveil hymn for Seoul WYD (Vatican News)