World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 61

Heavenly Father,

Allow the spark of merciful love

grant that we may bear

that you have enkindled within us

witness to your mercy.

become a fire that can transform hearts
and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Teach us how to convey
the faith to those in doubt,

Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us.

hope to those who are discouraged,

St. Faustina, pray for us.

love to those who feel indifferent,

St. John Paul II, pray for us.

forgiveness to those who have done wrong,
and joy to those who are unhappy.
EXPERIENCE OF SOLIDARITY (optional, but highly recommended)
After the retreat experience, take time later in

income areas, visiting those who are sick and

the day or on separate occasion to provide

suffering in local hospitals, nursing homes, or

participants an experience of mission and

shelters), the goal of this mission work should

solidarity with those who are poor, suffering,

be focused on accompanying and immersing

and/or marginalized. Ideally, this should be an

one’s self in the experience of those who

experience of immersion rather than simply a

struggle. It should also be noted, however, that

service or charity project, where being with and

these acts of charity or justice should be done

accompanying those who are poor and

with respect to those individuals and

vulnerable is a high value in the pilgrimage

communities impacted by injustice, poverty,

experience of mercy. The decision to organize

or suffering. In addition, retreat leaders should

such an activity, which should be promoted at

emphasize to the pilgrims that a person’s

the retreat itself, is ultimately up to the local

struggle (and the relief thereof) is not meant as

organizers and pastoral leaders, based on the

an avenue towards advancing one’s own faith

needs of the pilgrims and the resources

journey; rather, such an experience should open

available in the community.

a pilgrim’s eyes to the struggle of others, and it
can serve as an opening to continued acts of

While service components are possible

solidarity with those who are poor and those

elements of the experience (e.g. visiting a soup

who are marginalized locally, nationally, and

kitchen, delivering meals to those in low-

internationally.
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