Venerable Emil Kapaun Korean Pilgrimage at World Youth Day 2027
August 2027 | South Korea
Calling all young adults! Join the Diocese of Wichita for a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Seoul, South Korea for World Youth Day 2027 with Pope Leo XIV and an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Venerable Emil Kapaun.
World Youth Day + Pope Leo + Venerable Emil Kapaun = One unforgettable experience!
Walk in Father Kapaun’s Footsteps
Get ready to walk where Father Kapaun walked, see the towns he defended, visit the foxholes he evangelized. We’ll pray in the church he helped reclaim from communist tyranny, and celebrate Mass not far from the field where his ministry was forever immortalized.
Depart for Korea
August 1
Depart Wichita on August 1 2027, arriving in South Korea on August 2nd at Incheon International Airport outside of Seoul.
World Youth Day Seoul
August 3-8
Join over a million Catholic young adults from around the world for the greatest Catholic festival on earth. Walking tours of Seoul, Catholic martyr shrines and pilgrim sites, catechesis and music festivals are all part of the celebration. At the end of the week, Pope Leo XIV will arrive and celebrate the Via Crucis, along with a prayer vigil and closing Mass.
Courage in Battle
August 9-10: Waegwan and the Naktong Perimeter Battles
Spend the day outdoors in the hills overlooking the Naktong River, where Father Kapaun became famous for roaming the frontlines. This is where United Nations forces fought during the first months of the war in a desperate attempt to defend the last corner of free Korea until reinforcements could arrive. We’ll hear courageous stories and read letters Father Kapaun wrote from his time ministering to men in the foxholes.
Freedom to Worship
August 11: Anseong: Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
Visit a town captured by the North Koreans in the early days of the war. When the Communists arrived, the Catholic priests and religious sisters had to flee. A few months later when the US soldiers recaptured the town, Father Kapaun found this church, desecrated but not destroyed, and celebrated Mass here for the first time in over two months for the local faithful as well as his soldiers. Pray and celebrate Mass with us here.
The Peace of God
August 12: North of Seoul
Celebrate Mass near the field where the iconic image of Father Kapaun was taken. Visit the border and gaze into North Korea, where Father Kapaun was captured and spent his final months serving in a POW camp. We will see Freedom Bridge, where his fellow POWs carried the beautifully carved crucifix aloft on their way to freedom, and where Father Kapaun’s remains crossed over on his way back into US hands.
Return Home
August 13
Goodbye and gamsahabnida to Seoul, as we head back home from Incheon International Airport on August 13.
The Basics
WHO
Young adults age 18-35 as of August 1, 2027.
We will have some capacity to welcome parents and priests who are accompanying young adults.
WHEN
August 1 – 13, 2027. The main World Youth Day events are scheduled for Aug. 3-8, 2027. After WYD, we will go on pilgrimage to the locations where Father Kapaun served on the battlefields of South Korea. Our return home will be on August 13, 2027.
COST: $5,750
The full package is $5,750 and covers flights, WYD 2027 registration, a local guide, lodging, and meals as well as support from our travel partner, JMJ Youth.
Registration is due by April 20 2026 with a $500 down payment. Payment will be to JMJ Youth in four installments of 25% on the following schedule:
April 20, 2026: Initial Registration and $500 down payment
July 1, 2026: $937 (after $500 down payment)
October 1, 2026: $1,437
January 1, 2027: $1,437
April 1, 2027: $1,437
Knowing that this investment will require great sacrifice, we encourage interested persons to begin prayerfully fundraising now. We will provide some fundraising tips at our info sessions.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We will be travelling with a large group and will be doing lots of walking at various times, easily 10 miles a day. The final WYD events will involve a longer pilgrimage walk and camping out under the stars ahead of the closing Mass with Pope Leo. We will take a bus to other parts of the country to follow Father Kapaun’s footsteps.
Overnight Stays: Shared rooms with individual beds and attached bathrooms.
SAVE YOUR SPOT
Sign up today to hold your spot on this unforgettable pilgrimage with a $500 deposit.
If you’re ready to register, let us know in the form below, and we’ll send the full link.
I want to know more!
Sounds amazing, but want more details before committing? Drop us your info below and we’ll be in touch.
If you’re ready to register, fill out the form and let us know in the comment field.
We plan to host a couple information nights in the near future to share more details and answer your questions.