World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 29
Vocations and callings, including:
Leader: Each week at Mass, we pray together
Marriage, Priesthood, Religious Life,
the Creed. This same Creed is prayed in every
Single Life, Consecrated Life, Mission,
Catholic parish, in every language and culture,
and Lay Ecclesial Ministry
and around the world. It is a statement of faith
Living the Pascal Mystery, recognizing
that is shared among Catholics (and even
the moments of “life, death, and
among many other Christian denominations).
resurrection” in our lives and how those
In the Creed, we pray these words: “I believe in
moments draw us closer to Christ’s
one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” We
own suffering, death, and resurrection
call these the four marks of the Church. The
Church Teaching (e.g. the Catechism of
Church is marked with these characteristics,
the Catholic Church, the documents of
given to us by Christ, which help us understand
Vatican II, encyclicals and other papal
the Church’s mission. Today, we’re going to use
writings, Bible study, etc.)
the four marks of the Church to talk about the
ways we encounter Christ in the Church, and
One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
the ways we are called forth to encounter
It is recommended to use selections from Part One,
others as disciples of Jesus. With each of these
Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Nine (“I Believe
areas, we offer a few examples to get us started.
in the Holy Catholic Church”) in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church (748-975), in particular
A. The Church is ONE:
811-870. Focus on areas that help pilgrims better
understand the four marks of the Church, so that this
Praying at World Youth Day liturgies in
many languages, but as one body.
can be a guided large-group conversation between the
Praying with the Communion of Saints,
facilitator and the participants. Focus especially on the
and in a special way, the WYD patron
ways pilgrims can encounter Christ through the Church.
saints.
Help participants make the connection that these are
Sacraments, Prayer, and other
elements that are shared among the Church throughout
devotions, at World Youth Day, but
the whole world and in a particular way by the pilgrims
also in daily life.
at World Youth Day. You may also invite past World
Stateside celebrations praying in
Youth Day pilgrims to participate and share their
solidarity with pilgrims around the
experiences as they relate to the Church.
world and in Kraków.
(open the conversation to retreat participants
and World Youth Day alumni)
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