World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 27

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION TIME

CATECHETICAL PRESENTATION

NOTE TO LEADER: Once the group has

“ENCOUNTERING THE CHURCH”

completed this prayer experience, give them further

NOTE TO LEADER: For this session, you will

instructions on reflecting more deeply in personal time

need a dry erase board or large sheets of white paper (for

and subsequent small group conversations. Take

a collective brainstorming activity, with markers). When

approximately 15 to 25 minutes to allow the

speaking about the Church, it might also be good to

participants to reflect on the catechesis and the prayer.


have the New Testament and the Catechism of
the Catholic Church on hand for reference,

What does it mean to me to be on

especially if questions arise on this topic. The retreat

a “pilgrimage”?


leader may use the text here as suggested notes for this

How would I describe the difference

particular catechetical presentation.

between pilgrimage and other types of
journeys? (e.g., a trip to the grocery store,

A Culture of Encounter

driving long distance to visit grandparents,

Pope Francis gives us a vision and the challenge

a vacation, etc.)


of “a culture of encounter” by telling us:

Do you have a favorite parable or story
of encounter from the Scriptures related

Faith is an encounter with Jesus, and we

to Jesus? What is it about its meaning

must do what Jesus does: encounter

that appeals to you?


others … We must go out and meet

When have you encountered Christ who

them, and with our faith we must create

is calling, healing, forgiving, loving, and

a “culture of encounter,” a culture of

inviting you into friendship? What was that

friendship, a culture in which we find

encounter like? Why was it memorable?


brothers and sisters, in which we can

As you consider the life and the teaching

also speak with those who think

and person of Jesus what do you find

differently, as well as those who hold

most comforting? Most challenging?

other beliefs, who do not have the same

Most radical?

faith. They all have something in
common with us: they are images of

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION TIME

God; they are children of God. We

NOTE TO LEADER: Take approximately 20 to

must be going out to meet everyone,

30 minutes to allow participants to join together in

without losing sight of our own

discussion; use the questions from individual reflection

position. (Address to the Lay Movements on

time to guide the conversation around the small groups.

the Vigil of Pentecost, May 18, 2013)
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