World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 23

Foundations: Pilgrimage and World Youth Day
In Kraków in the 1940s, a young Karol Wojtyła

These moments undoubtedly shaped the future

(who was studying in the underground

saint and very likely had an influence on his

seminary run by the Archbishop of Kraków)

outreach to youth and young adults when he

was inspired and mentored by Jan Tyranowski,

became Pope John Paul II in 1978. During the

a local tailor and the young adult ministry leader

Jubilee Year of Redemption, which began in

for Wojtyła’s parish community, St. Stanislaus

1983 to commemorate 1950 years since the

Kostka Church in Debnicki. The parish, run by

death and resurrection of Christ, the Holy

the Salesians of Don Bosco (a group dedicated

Father called a special gathering of young

to outreach to youth and young adults around

people, which would take place on Palm

the world), was a fitting setting for the

Sunday 1984, one of the last acts of the jubilee

seminarian to recognize the value of ministerial

celebration. With the momentum of this event,

leadership and its impact on young people.

coupled with another gathering the following

After ordination and despite Communist

Palm Sunday to mark the United Nations’

proscriptions against religious gatherings,

International Year of Youth, the pope declared

throughout the 1950s Fr. Wojtyła would risk

the institution of World Youth Day in

exposure to the authorities in regular outings

December 1985. Ever since, the Catholic

with university students, young adults, and

Church around the world has annually

young married couples that included prayer,

celebrated young people in local and global

catechesis, retreats, and charitable acts of

gatherings which continue to this day.

service, as well as in-home Masses, saint-day
social events, and skiing and kayaking

The origins of this story, though, lie in the

excursions. In fact, it was during one of these

foundations of pastoral leadership in service to

outings in 1958 when Fr. Wojtyła was

youth and young adults: first received, then

summoned to Warsaw to accept his

given. Those who lead pilgrimages to World

appointment as the Auxiliary Bishop of

Youth Day today follow in the footsteps of

Kraków; then, after the formalities in the capital

Karol Wojtyła – and take from him the mantle

city, he returned to the young people in their

to teach, inspire, and accompany another

canoes to continue his ministry with them.

generation of missionary disciples.

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