World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 7

Finally, the Leader’s Guide will explore ways

You have an important role as a World Youth

that you can assist pilgrims after World Youth

Day internationally-bound pilgrimage leader.

Day. Often, the follow-up perspective is

You and others who have also accepted this

overlooked in all the planning that goes into

challenge now follow in the footsteps of great

this event. More than gathering pilgrims for

Catholic leaders before you like the father and

reunions and faith-sharing immediately

patron of this event, St. John Paul II, who as a

following the trip – though those are indeed

young priest and bishop in Communist-

important – this guide will also help you: to

controlled Kraków, accompanied young

encourage pilgrims to pray and reflect upon

adults on their journeys of faith. His example

the pilgrimage and engage in active

reminds us that this role – the role of a leader

discernment; to prepare parishes, dioceses,

who accompanies and journeys with young

families, and communities to welcome back

people on the road of discipleship – can be

their pilgrim travelers; to reconnect with

equally demanding and rewarding. Such

stateside pilgrims who celebrated the events

leaders have a unique opportunity to invite

of World Youth Day in the United States; and

young people to Christ and to nurture that

to help pilgrims take concrete and attainable

encounter so that these youth and young

action steps towards missionary discipleship.

adults can take on the mantle of transforming

What happens on the journey down the

their world, motivated by the lessons, people,

mountain is just as important as the trip up.

inspiration, and experiences of this encounter.

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