World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 9
tempting as it might be to focus completely
origin. A pilgrim does not exist in isolation, but
on those essential tasks (especially as the
is surrounded by an abundance of
international journey draws closer), the leader
relationships rooted in a community from
must always return to the pilgrims themselves.
which he or she comes.
The Pilgrim’s Community
The Olympics clearly demonstrate to us the
These young pilgrims, however, are not
role of community. Much of the media
isolated individuals. Not only do they have
coverage surrounding the Olympics is the
their particular concerns and perspectives,
stories of the athletes and their relationships
they also have a community that raised them,
and experiences back home. We hear the
supports them, and sends them forth.
stories of the high school coach who never
got rich, but always inspired others to do their
So for each pilgrim, ask yourself:
best, or maybe the sweetheart back home who
Where are they coming from?
is under hardship or the parents who
What are the blessings and burdens of the
sacrificed everything to make this moment
community from which they come?
possible. In every city or village who has an
Olympian going to compete, everyone there is
More often than not, the question asked of
invested and glued to the television, radio, or
World Youth Day pilgrims is usually: “Where
news reports during the international
are they [the pilgrims] going?” The stories so
competition, wherever that might be.
often told about a pilgrim are the stories of
the pilgrim's journey to someplace. But any
The story of the pilgrim without the context
good storyteller (and any good pilgrim leader)
of the community is incomplete. A million
will remind other, “That is not the full story.”
people gather for World Youth Day carrying
All stories start from some place, and that place
flags of their countries—the communities
has an impact. In fact, the pilgrim’s story is
from which they came. A full pilgrimage
not over until after the hero returns home,
encompasses not just getting from point A to
back to his or her community (and, in many
point B. Pilgrims come from a community, and
instances, the story continues on well after the
journey as a community, to encounter the
adventure). What tends to be overlooked, in
Lord, so that they can return transformed to the
our popular culture as well as in the World
community from which they came and
Youth Day story, is the pilgrim’s community of
transform that community.
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