World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 6

Introduction to the Guide

Congratulations! You have decided to lead a

This Leader’s Guide seeks to share

pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Kraków,

perspectives, information, and resources that

Poland. In so doing, you have embarked on

are helpful to internationally-bound World

an adventure of planning, organizing,

Youth Day pilgrimage leaders.

budgeting, visioning, negotiating, packing, and
general busy-ness. You have also embarked

First, this guide explores the role you play as an

on a process of helping young Catholics

international pilgrim leader, particularly

encounter Christ and walk in solidarity with

encouraging you to go beyond organizer to

fellow disciples around the world. The goal

witness. The second section outlines seven

of this International Pilgrim Leaders Guide is

principles to guide international leaders as they work

to assist in making the first part less daunting

with young people – offering suggestions on

and the second part more powerful.

ways to make this event a true pilgrimage of
faith. This section examines how World

In August 1993, when Pope St. John Paul II

Youth Day stands apart from other ministry

came to Denver, Colorado, for World Youth

initiatives for young disciples by its emphasis

Day (WYD), it was a transformational

on solidarity and encounter with the Holy

experience for youth and young adult ministry

Father and the Universal Church, as well as

across the United States. The World Youth

the connection to generations of pilgrim

Day pilgrimage, by nature and purpose, is

saints and spiritual guides that inspire youth

transformative, so it is no surprise that those

and young adults to a life of holiness,

pilgrims were indeed changed. However, what

equipped with the lessons and experiences of

was unexpected was the change that occurred

World Youth Day. The third section this

in the perspectives of ministry leaders (from

Leader’s Guide offers some practical tools on

dioceses, parishes, movements, and schools)

the size and scope of the World Youth Day

who coordinated their community’s

event, and how – as leaders – an important

participation in the pilgrimage. Leaders who

part of one’s role is to take care of the

guide pilgrimages to WYD, whether it is their

logistics to enable the pilgrims to fully and

first, second, or tenth trip, continue to witness

spiritually participate in the experience.

to the transformative power of World Youth
Day for their ministry and own hearts.
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