World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides Stateside Leader Guide | Page 58

preparing a formal or informal presentation appreciate that hat the Lord has sought them
for parishioners, ministry groups, or Catholic out and touched them where they were.
events. This can be incredibly helpful for both
stateside and international pilgrims as they Preparing for Sharing
transition back to everyday life. Depending on when your international
pilgrims return, it may be easier to gather
There may be some mixed feelings between stateside pilgrims alone first, before
the stateside and international pilgrims intentionally interacting with other pilgrims. If
regarding this sharing process. Some stateside so, use this unique time to discuss what the
pilgrims may believe that, because they did stateside pilgrims have carried with them since
not participate in the international pilgrimage, their local WYD experience and how they
they do not have much to say. Some of the plan to share that with the rest of the
reasons that people did not travel to Panamá community and their peers. Having them
can become obstacles in reflecting on their work together on a presentation or gathering
experience. There are many reasons that pictures for a slide show can be fun ways to
people do not travel for WYD, including lack remember and reflect. This reminds
of funds, a complicated immigration status, participants that their journey continues and
busy schedules, work, personal, or academic that they, too, are WYD pilgrims.
commitments, or a physical impediment. Any
of these reasons could present a challenge for The Sharing Experience
stateside pilgrims to appreciate the experience There are a variety of ways for international
of the international pilgrim, and vice versa, and stateside pilgrims to connect and share
and may struggle to get the most from an their experiences of World Youth Day. Some
encounter with the other pilgrims. things to keep in mind:
One way to navigate this potential difficulty is •
to highlight the joys and blessings that came
Timing is key. Most stateside pilgrims will
head home immediately following the
out of the stateside experience. Once a
event, but international pilgrims may be
stateside participant has developed a better
visiting additional sites after WYD is over.
understanding of the meaning of the
Planning a gathering as soon as
experience for themselves, they can better
international pilgrims return can be
57