World Youth Day can be a life-changing moment of faith, formation and vocation for young adults. For many, the cost is a genuine barrier. Parish support — through sponsorship, fundraising, and prayer — can make attendance possible.

These ideas are offered as practical suggestions drawn from what works in UK parishes. Each parish should discern what is appropriate for its local context and follow parish safeguarding and finance procedures.

1) Parish-Led Sponsorship

These approaches are often the most effective and least time-consuming.

A. Sponsor one pilgrim well

  • Full or partial sponsorship of one young adult

  • A clear “target” amount (e.g., £250 / £500 / £1,000) can help parishioners give confidently

B. Parish “WYD Fund”

  • A dedicated fund line agreed by the Parish Council / Finance Committee

  • Enables multiple smaller gifts to become meaningful support

C. Matched giving

  • A parish commits to match funds raised by a pilgrim up to a set amount

  • Motivates fundraising without putting all pressure on parishioners

D. Benefactor circle

  • Invite a small number of parishioners to contribute a set amount (e.g., £100–£250 each)

  • Keep it quiet, dignified, and grateful (no public pressure)

2) Simple, Reliable Parish Fundraisers

These are “high trust, low complexity” and work well in most UK parishes.

  • Retiring collection after a Sunday Mass (with appropriate permissions)

  • Soup lunch / simple supper (especially in Lent)

  • Parish quiz night (ticketed, modest prizes)

  • Coffee morning and bake sale with a suggested donation

  • Raffle (only if your parish is confident with legal/diocesan guidance and record-keeping)

Professional note: your best parish fundraisers are usually repeatable and easy to run, not “big one-offs.”

3) Sponsored Challenges (Good for young adults)

These are strong because they attract support from beyond the parish too.

  • Sponsored walk / run / cycle (with a parish blessing and clear purpose)

  • “Pilgrim pledge”: small gifts from many people for each mile / each week of preparation

  • Group challenge: several pilgrims fundraise together to build community and momentum

Tip: Always set a clear target and share one short story about why WYD matters spiritually.

4) Making and Selling Items (Rosaries, Crafts, and Catholic Goods)

Yes — this can be excellent, especially when done reverently and well.

A. Handmade rosaries (recommended)

Handmade rosaries are:

  • distinctly Catholic (natural fit)

  • meaningful to buy and give

  • relatively low-cost to make

  • easy to link to prayer for the pilgrim

Options:

  • Simple cord rosaries

  • Bead rosaries (basic but good quality)

  • Single-decade “pocket” rosaries

  • Rosary bracelets (if tasteful and sturdy)

How to do it professionally

  • Keep it simple and durable, not fiddly

  • Provide a small card: “Please pray for WYD pilgrims”

  • If selling after Mass, keep it calm and organised (no pressure)

C. Pricing (keep it fair and simple)

Aim for “donation-style” pricing rather than a hard sell:

  • Suggested donation ranges (e.g., £3 / £5 / £10)

  • “Pay what you can” if appropriate

  • Avoid premium pricing; this is parish life, not retail

5) Parish “Sponsor a Pilgrim” Prayer + Giving (High trust, pastoral)

A very effective model is to combine prayer and giving:

  • Parishioners take a prayer card with a pilgrim’s first name

  • They commit to pray weekly

  • They are invited (not pressured) to donate if they wish

This keeps the focus on discipleship and belonging, not just money.

6) Events that Also Build Faith

Where possible, choose fundraising that strengthens the parish spiritually:

  • A talk/testimony evening: “Why WYD matters”

  • Adoration hour for pilgrims (with a basket for discreet donations)

  • A parish Mass intention for WYD pilgrims (and a retiring collection)

These keep it Catholic and mission-centred.

 

7) Good Practice: Keeping it Appropriate and Sustainable

A professional fundraiser would encourage:

  • Clarity: What’s the target? What will funds cover?

  • Transparency: A simple update: “£X raised — thank you”

  • Dignity: No pressure tactics. No guilt language.

  • Accountability: Clear handling of money and permissions

  • Focus: It’s better to do 2–3 fundraisers well than 10 poorly

Suggested Next Steps for Parishes

  1. Identify whether the parish can sponsor a pilgrim fully or partially

  2. Decide whether to support pilgrim-led fundraising (and how)

  3. Choose 1–2 simple events that suit your parish

  4. Encourage prayer support alongside any financial support

World Youth Day is an investment in young adults who often return with renewed commitment to parish life, service, and vocation.