World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 53

assistance from friends and family. Raising Information Relay
funds as a group can build community and get Good leadership requires good information and
local communities engaged and invested in the good communication. Pilgrimage guides are
pilgrimage. There are a plethora of fundraising strongly encouraged to carry a mobile device
ideas available on the Internet (search “ministry and check daily for the latest WYD updates and
fundraising”) and WYD organizers across the messages (either from the WYD organizers in
country have creative ideas as well. Panamá or through WYDUSA). Organizers
may use apps or social media to relay changes
While there is no perfect fundraising option or alerts to group leaders. A mobile phone is a
(and no surefire way to secure the funding), the great way to communicate with the pilgrims
key is to integrate the spiritual and communal either through voice or text options
goals of the pilgrimage into whatever (international rates may apply). Some travel
fundraising activity is developed for the group. companies may provide one or more mobile
phones to their groups.
One way to get the local community more
involved and engaged with WYD is for Inevitably, group leaders will need to make
parishioners, families, or peers to “adopt” daily announcements to their pilgrims about
pilgrims and assist them both financially and gathering times, transportation plans, meal
spiritually. These adopters and their “children” options, changes to the schedule, and so forth.
pray for each other during the preparation, Some groups are small enough for a leader to
celebration, and follow-up of WYD. Some communicate with the group at any time, while
communities and parishes host gatherings large groups may need to gather at a set time
before and after the trip so that the pilgrims every day. If the group is too large to gather in
and the adopters can be together. one place daily, consider meeting with co-
There are several ways to keep the cost of leaders once or twice per day, relaying the
WYD down for the group: choosing the simple information to the pilgrims through them.
accommodation package; finding the best If the group is housed together, consider
possible deal on airfare; using the meal voucher posting any updates on a board or sign in a
system of WYD, among other options. clear, visible location.
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