World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 17

leader and the pilgrims have encountered Jesus would simply be passive recipients. The
Christ, so they have a mission to assist others in new evangelization calls for personal
having such an encounter. St. John Paul II, the involvement on the part of each of the
father and the key patron saint of the World baptized. Every Christian is challenged,
Youth Day experience, explained this dynamic here and now, to be actively engaged in
very well: “Our personal encounter with Christ evangelization; indeed, anyone who has
bathes life in new light, sets us on the right truly experienced God’s saving love does
path, and sends us out to be his witnesses.” 22 not need much time or lengthy training to
go out and proclaim that love. Every
The response to the personal encounter as a Christian is a missionary to the extent
witness sent by Jesus Christ into the world is that he or she has encountered the love
called living as a missionary disciple. This term of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say
captures a reality which is central to the work of that we are “disciples” and
the New Evangelization as the Church moves “missionaries”, but rather that we are
more fully from maintenance to mission. 23 Pope always “missionary disciples.” 24
Francis uses the term very often in his
preaching and catechesis and explains it clearly Bringing Christ to others (as a missionary
in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. disciple) compels one to know and live the
faith. Being catechized is about knowing the faith
In virtue of their baptism, all the members and witnessing to the faith. Formation in the faith
of the People of God have become is meant to be ongoing. Additionally, one does
missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the not grow in faith alone; rather, it is the work of
baptized, whatever their position in the Christ within us and in a community. Leaders
Church or their level of instruction in the are called to be regularly engaged in these
faith, are agents of evangelization, and it efforts (ongoing formation, community
would be insufficient to envisage a plan of activities) if they are to model them for
evangelization to be carried out by pilgrims. The parish is the regular place where
professionals while the rest of the faithful leaders and pilgrims are nurtured by Christ
22
St. John Paull II, Message of the Holy Father on the
Occasion of the XVII World Youth Day, July 25, 2001.
16
23 See XII Ordinary Synod of Bishops (2012), Proposition 22.
24 Evangelii Gaudium, no. 120. Emphasis added.