On August 1, 2027, sixteen youth and chaperones from Fremont County will travel to Seoul, South Korea, for World Youth Day, an international gathering of Catholic youth that draws hundreds of thousands, and often millions, of young people from around the world. During the nine-day pilgrimage, these students will participate in cultural exchanges, service opportunities, prayer experiences, and events designed to strengthen leadership, character, and faith. The pilgrimage will conclude with a large open-air gathering with Pope Leo XIV.
The Fremont County group is part of a larger Wyoming delegation made up of twenty-four youth and leaders from five Catholic parishes across the state. St. Margaret’s Church in Riverton is sending the largest group, with participants ranging in age from 13 to 21.
While World Youth Day is rooted in the Catholic faith, organizers say the impact extends far beyond religion alone. Experiences like this expose young people to different cultures, challenge them to grow in independence and responsibility, and help form compassionate, service-minded leaders who return home with a broader perspective on the world and their role within their communities.
“There is another group from Wyoming going, but that group is limited to young people over eighteen,” said organizer Will Hill. “We had younger students who wanted the opportunity to participate, so we worked to organize a trip that would allow them to experience this at an important stage in their lives.”
For many participants, international pilgrimages and service experiences become defining moments in their growth as young adults.
“I’ve been on a pilgrimage to Rome before, and it changed my perspective on life,” said Lillianna, one of the youth traveling to Seoul. “Being surrounded by so many joyful young people helped me realize how much bigger the world is than my own worries or school stress. I came home more hopeful and grateful.”
The cost of the trip is approximately $4,800 per participant, and over the past several months, these students have worked diligently to raise funds through sponsorships, events, and community outreach. Local businesses throughout Riverton and Lander stepped forward in a major way to support the effort.
Through a partnership with County 10, businesses were invited to sponsor the group through a special community feature campaign. County 10 also donated a $10,000 advertising package to be raffled among participating sponsors, helping generate even greater community involvement.
Organizers say the fundraiser was never simply about paying for airfare or hotel rooms. It was about creating a community-wide investment in local youth and giving students the opportunity to encounter the wider world, grow in leadership, and return home with experiences that will shape them for years to come.
