MANILA, August 30, 2012—Filipinos interested to participate in next year’s World Youth Day (WYD) in Brazil should seriously start saving and soliciting funds for their pilgrimage this early. This as the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) estimates that an individual pilgrim’s round-trip airfare may cost $2,300 to $2,500 or around P100,000 alone.
This excludes a financial requirement of $365 for those attending only the WYD week in Rio de Janeiro from July 23 to 28, or $465 for those who will be participating in the pre-WYD Missionary week in other Brazilian dioceses from July 17 to 20.
As such, a Filipino WYD pilgrim flying from Manila to Rio de Janeiro to attend the 27th WYD has to set aside at least P120,000 for his minimum budget for the trip. But this estimation is only applicable to those who will be joining the official Philippine WYD delegation under the ECY.
Aside from the financial requirements, the ECY also published the documentary requirements that a group or an individual will have to submit to be part of the ECY-Philippines delegation. The required documents and steps in applying for membership at the ECY-Philippines delegation were detailed at the “ECY and WYD 2013 Primer” that was circulated through electronic mail yesterday. An electronic copy of the “ECY and WYD 2013 Primer” is available at www.youthpinoy.com.
In the email, ECY chairman and Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon urged dioceses, parishes, schools and youth communities to organize a delegation to attend the upcoming WYD, themed “Go and make disciples of all nations” [Mt 28:19].
“Sending a delegation to the WYD2013 in Brazil will be beneficial for young people. It is an event of the Church that is truly life changing, as it comes at a time when young people are about to make big decisions in life,” he said.
The prelate also echoed Pope Benedict XVI’s challenge for young Catholics to “be enthusiastic witnesses of the new evangelization.”
“We hope those who will join this event will undertake this challenge with great conviction and become joyful missionaries in their families and circles of friends, in their communities and in the bigger Church,” he added.
Registration for groups that intend to join the ECY-Philippines delegation runs until October 5, when enlisting of individual pilgrims starts (and ends on January 1).
Each youth pilgrim must be less than 35 years of age by December 2013, active in the youth ministry setting such as parish, diocese, school or organization, where he belongs.
An adult pilgrim, aged 36 to 60, may also attend the WYD, provided he is actively involved in a ministry in his setting.
Clergy, religious or lay youth ministers attending the international youth gathering must be 20 to 60 years of age and actively involved in the youth ministry in their own setting.
A minor must be accompanied by a chaperon in order to attend the WYD. The chaperon must carry a written authorization from the minor’s parent or legal guardian through a permit to travel issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
A non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of P500 is charged to every pilgrim, whether registering as part of a group or as an individual participant.
Submission of the participation cost (in US dollars) covering the Missionary Week and WYD Week starts on October 5 and ends on March 29, 2013. Payment can be made directly at the ECY office in Intramuros, Manila or through bank transaction.
A pilgrim-applicant can refund monies he paid for participation at the WYD if he cancels his registration as member of the ECY-Philippines delegation.
“The ECY shall issue refunds when a WYD 2013 registration is cancelled. Certain percentages will be deducted depending on the time of the cancellation,” the “ECY and WYD 2013 Primer” says.
Further inquiries on how to join the ECY-Philippines delegation can also be coursed through the ECY’s telephone number 527-9567 or email address ecyphilippines@gmail.com.
Over 400 Filipinos attended the last WYD in Madrid, Spain under the ECY-Philippines delegation. Some 1,500 others registered under other groups. (YouthPinoy)
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Read more at http://youthpinoy.com/cbcp-announces-financial-documentary-requirements-to-attend-world-youth-day-2013/
