“It was just a huge success,” he said. “It was a great way to boost spirit and morale in the parish.”

Along with hosting a pancake breakfast last May, Santos said the World Youth Day team and parish Knights of Columbus council, managed the local rubber duck race at the Unionville Festival.

“In total, we had about 1,300 ducks — seven barrels that we dumped over the (Main Street) bridge.”

He said that it was one of the group’s biggest fundraisers to date, raising just over $2,000.

Santos said that fundraising in the parish has been successful so far.

“The parish has definitely supported us and we couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Christian Elia, director of the Office of Catholic Youth, said that fundraising initiatives on a parish level are important as they show parish unity.

“They also show the young people that they are extremely important,” he said. “They are the Church of today, not just the Church of tomorrow.”

Elia said that based on the numbers from past World Youth Days, he estimates that there will easily be 300 or 400 youth attending from the Toronto area.

At St. Mary Immaculate parish in Richmond Hill, Ont., the youth group has been fundraising since last summer, said youth co-ordinator Boots Montano, to send a group of 15.

Bake sales, candy sales, a pancake breakfast and selling Catholic calendars last Christmas are some of the initiatives that the group has undertaken thus far.

But the group’s biggest fundraiser to date will happen on Oct. 1 when they host the Casino Royale Gala Banquet, a themed dinner-dance.

As well, they hold a monthly movie night at the church, charging $5 at the door.

So how much money do they still have to raise?

“A lot,” Montano said. “It’s expensive so the youth have to work really hard to raise the money.”

The Office of Catholic Youth is offering youth a package, through Tour Design, that includes flights, accommodations, tour insurance and covers the registration fee and all events at World Youth Day, among other things. The cost is $3,850 for double occupancy and $4,850 for single.     The 17-day pilgrimage includes time in both Rome (two nights) and Spain (five nights in Cintruenigo and eight nights in Madrid).

But Santos hopes to knock down the cost to about $2,500 for each young person attending.

“The more money that we generate, the more money that will be knocked down for each person going,” said Santos. “We’re very grateful that people have opened up their hearts and opened up their wallets.”