World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides Stateside Leader Guide | Page 62

Vocational Discernment Gathering for World Youth Day Pilgrims
WYD has a growing impact on the vocational Gathering Activities
discernment process of youth and young Begin the gathering with team building and
adults, as evidenced by annual studies of those icebreakers, giving participants the
in seminary or religious life.
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opportunity to get to know each other. This
event should be open to both stateside and
The WYD experience helps young people
international pilgrims.
prayerfully consider what God is calling them
to do with their lives. This year’s theme of Discernment Exercise
Mary’s Fiat and the fact that it coincides with Plan an activity to help the pilgrims engage in
the international Synod on Young People, the the discernment process – to help them better
Faith, and Vocational Discernment. Thus, understand what discernment is, how the
vocational discernment is a perfect fit for a process works, and ways they can practice
day that brings together stateside and discernment. Making choices through prayer
international World Youth Day pilgrims. and reflection is an important skill for any
young person to develop. It is especially
The word “vocation” here is understood in important when they are considering many
the broadest sense of God’s call in a person’s options regarding their future and wondering
life. It encompasses the states of life where God may be leading them.
(vocations to the priesthood, diaconate,
religious/consecrated life, and marriage), as It may be ideal to invite a local vocations
well as the calls to attend a particular college director (for the diocese/eparchy or from a
or university, engage in various forms of local religious institute) to lead a discernment
service or extracurricular activity, or looking activity for the young people, or to help plan
towards particular occupations or careers. it. Below is an outline of a discernment
exercise that may be used:
USCCB Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations: Profession
Class 2014 Report, p. 17; Ordination Class 2015 Report, p. 25;
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-
teachings/vocations/consecrated-life/profession-
class/upload/Profession-Class-2014-report-FINAL.PDF;
and http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-
teachings/vocations/ordination-class/upload/Class-of-2015-
report-FINAL-V2.pdf
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