World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | страница 68

Pilgrim Blessings

Group Leader Supplies

Despite all the aforementioned logistical

In addition to your own personal supplies,

hurdles of organizing the international trip,

group leaders should consider bringing extra

keeping a prayerful spirit is essential to the true

gear, even if it means checking an extra bag.

success of the pilgrimage. It is important to

Group leaders may want to bring some basic

emphasize this constantly, so that participants

office supplies, some inexpensive radios, duct

do not reduce their group leaders to event-

tape and blue tape, tarps and beach mats, sticky

organizers. Instead, the leaders are pastoral

notes, pens, a compass, zip-ties, small clear

guides accompanying pilgrims on their journey.

bags, and garbage bags. You may also consider
purchasing some of these items in Kraków

The book, Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

instead of carrying them overseas. Having these

from the USCCB, has some excellent prayer

extra items might be valuable with large groups

services already written out for the departure,

when faced with unexpected circumstances,

journey, and return of pilgrims. If no priest or

bad weather, or the need to hold team meetings

deacon is available, a layperson may lead many

during World Youth Day.

of the prayers contained in the book including
the “Blessing of Travelers.” Go online to the

It is also important for leaders to bring some

www.usccb.org website to order one or more

items (devotionals, books, prayer cards, a cross,

copies for your group. Consider using the

rosary, journal, music, etc.) for their own

prayers in this book with your entire group or

spiritual well being. Leading a group can be

encourage parishes or dioceses to use them to

very exhausting, especially at World Youth Day.

send off their pilgrims. The book is portable

It will be important for group leaders to have

enough for leaders (or several leaders) to carry

tools that will assist them in prayer, reflection,

with them to Kraków, as well as throughout the

and rejuvenation – however that is done for the

preparation process. When pilgrims see their

individual leader. Caring for others cannot be

leaders using books like these on a regular basis,

done without also caring for ones’ self.

it may inspire them to secure the book for
themselves in the weeks and months following

In the end, the World Youth Day experience

their return home from World Youth Day.

offers pilgrims and leaders the opportunity of
a lifetime – but one that requires much

Additional prayers and guides can also be found

preparation and planning because of all the

on the WYDUSA page, www.wydusa.org.

moving parts of this great pilgrimage journey.
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