God is Inspiring

A pilgrimage to World Youth Day with the University of Notre Dame

July 29 - August 7, 2023

About

Come with the University of Notre Dame and Verso Ministries to one of the most inspiring, epic weeks you’ll ever encounter in your faith. Join millions of Catholic young people in celebrating the life of faith God has called you to. You’ll never experience God, the Church, or your faith the same way ever again.

Trip Details

Group Type & Size

University of Notre Dame - Office of Campus Ministry, Minimum 26 Pilgrims

Activity Level

Difficult

Length

10 days, 9 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$4,225

Deposit:

$300

What's Included

Dedicated pilgrimage director/Shared pilgrimage director, supplemented by local guides
Roundtrip airfare from U.S. to Portugal
Daily Mass
Day pilgrimage to Fátima, including tour guide, transportation, audio headsets, Mass, and meals as listed in itinerary
Private transportation on motor coach and airport/hotel transfers
All tickets and donations for activities listed on itinerary, including World Youth Day registration fees
Standard accommodations
Breakfast daily, WYD meal vouchers, and Welcome/Farewell Dinners
Post-Departure benefits of the Student Deluxe group plan from Travel Insured International have been purchased by Verso on behalf of each pilgrim (U.S. residents only)

Itinerary

July 29
Depart U.S.
  • Depart U.S. (flights included in the package)
July 30
Lisbon
  • Arrive at airport
  • Meet guide and enjoy a panoramic city tour, including Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, and a visit to St. Anthony of Padua Church
  • Visit the Lisbon Cathedral, Santa Maria Major (time permitting)
  • Welcome Mass and dinner
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Dinner
July 31
Fátima, Lisbon
  • Day trip to Fátima to discover the story of the three children to whom Our Lady of Fátima appeared, beginning at their homes in Aljustrel Pray the Stations of the Cross as you continue to Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared to the children after their release from prison, then complete the day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima
  • Explore the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions (pending availability), and visit the Basilica of the Holy Trinity
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
August 1
Lisbon, WYD Opening Mass
  • Spend the morning and afternoon touring Lisbon complete with its unique spiritual and historical sites
  • In the late afternoon, head to the Opening Mass for World Youth Day, hosted by the Patriarch (Archbishop) of Lisbon
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 2
Morning Catechesis, Youth Festival
  • Morning catechesis with English-speaking bishop, priests, and youth at designated church or school in city to pray, celebrate, and learn together with music, testimonials, and Mass
  • Afternoon free time to explore Lisbon and attend the various events of the Youth Festival, including Reconciliation, music, and fellowship
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 3
Catechesis, Papal Welcome
  • Morning catechesis at designated location with fellow pilgrims
  • Join in welcoming the Pope at the welcome celebration and prayer service with the Holy Father
  • Free time to explore the sights and sounds of the Youth Festival with continued opportunities for prayer, music, and fellowship
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 4
Catechesis, Stations of the Cross
  • Final catechetical session in the morning with the bishops
  • Then, the Youth Festival continues, with the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or check out the Vocation Fair
  • In the evening, rejoin the Pope as all the pilgrims pray together the Stations of the Cross, led by the Holy Father himself
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 5
Walking Pilgrimage, Overnight Vigil
  • Begin with a pilgrimage to the Vigil site, typically a 12-15 mile walk After finding designated area, settle in and enjoy different entertainment, shows, music, and prayer opportunitie
  • In the evening, join with the Pope and fellow pilgrims for a candlelit Vigil prayer service
  • That night, sleep under the stars and prepare for the final day
  • Overnight at Vigil site
  • Accommodations: Under the stars, Vigil site
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 6
Location
  • The morning begins early with closing activities, including music, prayers, and the closing Papal Mass with the Pope
  • Walk back to the hotel to enjoy a hot shower and some last minute shopping or sight-seeing before enjoying a Farewell Dinner
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Centrally located 3-star hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
August 7
Departure
  • Depart Lisbon for U.S.
  • Meals included: Breakfast

Pricing

As low as

$4,225

Package Cost (without savings)

$4,225

Optional

Single room supplement (limited availability)
$749/person - SOLD OUT
Single room supplement (limited availability, for all singles arranged after 4/21)
$1,655/person
Travel protection upgrades
See details below*

Pricing listed per person in double-occupancy rooms and includes roundtrip airfare from U.S. to Portugal. Final pricing may adjust based on actual costs for flight, WYD registration fees, and/or any significant changes in currency exchange rates.

The number of available single-occupancy rooms is limited.

All registrations submitted after 12/1/2022 will be subject to a late registration fee of $450/person. The late registration fee covers the increased cost of lodging.

*Travel protection upgrade prices are calculated based on the total trip cost. Click here to find more information about pricing and to purchase travel protection for WYD.

Rates assume a minimum of 26 full-paying pilgrims.

  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Meals while traveling and any meals not mentioned on itinerary
  • Drinks at meals
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), and meals
  • Upgraded travel protection
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Group Flight information

U.S. to Portugal arrival flight – [Month XX, 2023]

  1. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
  2. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
  3. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]

Portugal to U.S. departure flight – [Month XX, 2023]

  1. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
  2. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
  3. Flight #XXXX: Depart [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.], arrive [Airport (XXX)] at [X:XX a.m./p.m.]

 

Arranging your own flights?
Designated arrival and departures times

  • Arrival information
    • Arrive by: July 30, 2023
    • Arrival time: Between [X:XX a.m./p.m.] and [X:XX a.m./p.m.] / By [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
    • Arrival airport: Airport name (XXX)
    • Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred in groups according to arrival time from [Airport name] to the hotel.
  • Departure information
    • Depart on: August 7, 2023
    • Departure time: Between [X:XX a.m./p.m.] and [X:XX a.m./p.m.] / By [X:XX a.m./p.m.]
    • Departure airport: Airport name (XXX)
    • Departure transfer: Pilgrims departing on August 7 will be transferred to the airport in groups according to departure time.

 

Standard Accommodations

  • Lisbon: Centrally located 3-Star hotel

There is no extension planned for this pilgrimage.

In order to secure your space, Verso Ministries requires a non-refundable deposit of $300 per person. All final balances are due by April 1, 2023. Here is your group’s payment plan:

  1. Deposit due upon registration – $300/person
  2. December 1, 2022 – 15% of package
  3. March 1, 2023 – 15% of package
  4. April 1, 2023 – Final balance

Final package price is estimated. Prices are based on the exchange rate as of December 2021. Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates, airline taxes and fees (as applicable), or WYD registration fees could affect the final pilgrimage pricing. If you have any questions about pricing and when final pricing decisions will be communicated, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be submitted to Verso Ministries in written form and received via email or mail. Any refunds, as applicable, will be processed based on the date stamp of email or mail received. Cancellation fees will be charged per person, per booking. Cancellation fees apply to individual pilgrims who cancel their booking or organizing groups if the original number of pilgrims is reduced and the group size is altered.

Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here.

  • After deposit: Deposit is retained ($300 per person)
  • May 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022: $1,000 per person
  • July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022: $1,500 per person
  • October 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022: $2,500 per person
  • January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023: $3,500 per person
  • April 1, 2023 or after: 100% of trip cost (no refund given)

Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, WYD registration, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 180 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted.

FAQ

Registration closes when the pilgrimage reaches the maximum number of pilgrims. If the pilgrimage is filled when you register, you will be added to our waiting list, and contacted in the event that space on the pilgrimage becomes available. Don’t miss your chance, register now and begin your journey.

We accept credit/debit card and bank transfers. After you pay your initial deposit online using a credit or debit card, you are welcome to submit payments by check or credit/debit card (fees apply).

Credit card payments are also accepted with a 3.5% processing fee per transaction. To pay by credit card, please see your pilgrim portal where you are able to pay online via card under the “Payments” tab. You are able to view your current invoice there as well.

Yes! Get the most out of your efforts to gather your group and raise money with support, custom designs, and media kits from Verso with our Fundraising Kit.

Password: VERSOWYD

If you have any additional questions, please visit our general FAQ page or contact us at wyd@versoministries.com. 

Verso Ministries will purchase post-departure benefits of the Student Deluxe Group Plan from Travel Insured International on behalf of all pilgrims (U.S. only).

Pilgrims have the option to upgrade their travel protection to plans that include Trip Cancellation, Cancel For Any Reason coverage, and other benefits. We highly recommend all our pilgrims to purchase CFAR coverage.

You will receive an email with your group’s specific Student Group Deluxe Plan link, which you can use to purchase a policy. Rates are based on overall trip cost and not age.  You will need to enter the cost of your full trip cost and make your purchase prior to final trip payment on the Student Deluxe Plan in order to qualify for the pre-existing medical condition waiver.

For questions on the plan, coverage or procedures, please contact the Group Support Desk at Travel Insured 844-440-8113.

You can purchase the Student Group Deluxe Policy benefits, minus time-sensitive benefits, until 48 hours prior to departure. If you want to take advantage of the time-sensitive benefits, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or to qualify for the pre-existing medical condition waiver, you will need to purchase the plan prior to submitting final trip payment.

A pilgrimage, at its simplest, is a trip of faith. Which means a pilgrimage can be anything from a walk around your city to an encounter of Jesus in the Holy Land. For Catholics, it’s a trip of faith that people have been taking for hundreds or even thousands of years, many times in the same exact places you can visit today. It’s an opportunity to experience the spots God has made his presence known most in time and space, whether that’s where Jesus walked, where Mary appeared, or where the saints have lived and worked.

At Verso, we believe in crafting pilgrimages that offer you a view of God’s world and his work in it that you can’t get anywhere else. We believe everything from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims are ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We also believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, it’s how you prepare from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. Which means it’s our intention to shepherd you through the entire process — before, during, and after — so you can have the best, most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts, we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. Our goal is to make sure you’re physically, logistically, and spiritually ready for your pilgrimage. You’ll receive essential emails that will walk you through the process and give you ways to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. A pre-trip webinar will make sure you are in touch with the Verso leader of the trip, can get trip-specific info, and can ask questions. We’ll send you a pilgrim kit that contains a comprehensive booklet for your trip along with some Verso swag (such as a bag, pen, and sticker) that you can bring along with you on your pilgrimage. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email if you have any questions or special needs.

If you have any additional questions, please visit our general FAQ page or contact us at wyd@versoministries.com. 

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Activity Level

Easy
This trip’s activity level is easy. It’s recommended that travelers be in good health to enjoy this itinerary and be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include half or full-day itineraries with 1-3 hours of leisurely walking per day on smooth or slightly inclined terrain. The pace is more relaxed, with opportunities to rest throughout the day.

Moderate
This trip’s activity level is moderate. Travelers must be in good health and be in good physical condition to enjoy this itinerary. Travelers must be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries of 3-5 hours of walking at a normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and hills. The pace is faster and more demanding, with some breaks throughout the day.

Difficult
This trip’s activity level is difficult. Travelers must be in good health and physically fit to enjoy this itinerary. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries with up to 5-7 hours of walking at normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and steep hills. The pace is vigorous and demanding, with little down time each day.

Accommodation Level

Simple
For the duration of your trip, enjoy a range of lodging accommodations — from quaint guesthouses to simple-styled hotels. Discover a newfound appreciation for each of these locations which often have a unique character of their own. With your private bathroom and sleeping quarters, these locations will provide you with a clean, comfortable, and cozy place to settle into during your journey.

Standard
Venues at this level will provide you with the best accommodations at a reasonable cost. Not only will you have access to modern amenities and services, but special care is taken to ensure hotels are located in close proximity to the area’s local attractions. Expect your stay at this level to provide you with an added feeling of comfortability and convenience as you experience your pilgrimage.

Premium
Your stay at the premium level will ensure that your travel involves the opportunity to experience some of the most unique and luxurious stays that a destination has to offer. You’ll find that traveling at this level will afford you the opportunity to optimize your experience at each spot. From fine dining to scenic views, anticipate that your pilgrimage will provide you with breathtaking experiences no other location could provide.

How will I know what my stay will be like?
Each of our pilgrimage locations come with their own unique accommodations. From simple to luxurious, you can know that the care and satisfaction of each pilgrim is our greatest priority. While specific amenities will vary, we are sure that each of these handpicked locations will leave you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for each day.