World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 66

This exercise is especially important for

fundraising option (and no surefire way to

transition moments during the pilgrimage:

secure the funding), the key is to integrate the

for instance, when getting on and off public

spiritual and communal goals of the pilgrimage

transit, upon arrival and departure from the

into whatever fundraising activity is developed

target location, at the beginning and end of

for the group. A popular idea to get the local

each day, and at meal times.

community more involved and engaged with
the World Youth Day pilgrimage is for

Fundraising

parishioners, families, or peers to “adopt”

There’s no question that World Youth Day is

Kraków-bound pilgrims and assist them both

a financial challenge for many pilgrims. Some

financially and spiritually. These adopters, as

dioceses offer financial assistance to pilgrims,

well as the pilgrims, pray for each other during

some parishes will do group fundraisers, and

the preparation, celebration, and follow-up of

some individuals will do individual fundraisers

World Youth Day. Some communities and

or ask for financial assistance from friends and

parishes can host gatherings before and after

family. Raising funds as a group can build

the trip so that the pilgrims and the adopters

community and get local communities engaged

can come together to connect, pray, and share

and invested in the pilgrimage. However, it

their mutual experiences.

should always be kept in mind that the need to
raise money should not interfere with or take

While it would be wonderful if the costs for

away from the spiritual preparation of pilgrims.

World Youth Day were not so high, there are a
number of ways to overcome the financial

Nonetheless, there are multitudes of fundraisers

challenges involved with overseas travel:

ranging from product and bake sales to special

Choosing the WYD simple accommodation

fundraising events to direct donations (now

packages, price checking your airfares, and

even more convenient with online and social

using the meal voucher system of World Youth

media donation pages). A plethora of

Day (instead of purchasing meals on-site) are all

fundraising ideas are available on the Internet

ways to keep costs down, so that fundraising is

by simply searching “ministry fundraising” or

not so extensive. Even with these options,

reaching out to other World Youth Day

encouraging and planning memorable stateside

organizers across the country. Try to avoid

World Youth Day celebrations can be a great

fundraisers that involve a lot of work for small

way to help youth and young adults who cannot

financial gain. While there is no perfect

afford the costs of traveling to Kraków.
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