World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 7

World Youth Day (WYD) is coming soon.

experiences to use during World Youth Day

Opening this manual is one of the first steps of

and then a post-pilgrimage retreat that helps

your own mountaintop experience as a pilgrim leader.

pilgrims climb down the mountain back to

As you know, World Youth Day is a pilgrimage,

everyday life, where God is still very much

not merely a trip to go and see the Pope, as

present, beckoning us to encounter him more

wonderful as that is. It is a journey for all

deeply and to witness to his grace and mercy in

participants, young pilgrims and group leaders

the everyday moments.

alike, to discover a deeper relationship with
God (and thus, the call to personal and

The initial three retreats focus on meeting

missionary discipleship) – not only on the

Christ, who accompanies pilgrims on their

physical journey but in the act of preparation

journey: as a fellow traveler, as the teacher of

and the return home. As St. Ignatius of Loyola

mercy, and as one who walks with those who

reminds us to seek and find God in all things,

struggle and suffer. These three ways of looking

so the leader’s mission is to direct all pilgrims in

at Christ focus on three important elements of

a way that helps them discover the Father, Son,

World Youth Day 2016: encounter, mercy, and

and Holy Spirit at all points along the path up

the cross, all of which will be integral to the

to, on top of, and down from the mountaintop

international and stateside pilgrimage

experience of World Youth Day. In addition,

experiences. The return retreat experience is

the leader accompanies those, too, who may

another chance to meet Christ as the one who

not have as transformative an experience as

sends us forth as missionary disciples.

other pilgrims, helping them on their own
journey.

There are many ways to use this manual,
depending on the needs of your group and the
ways you plan to prepare for this great

How To Use This Manual

pilgrimage experience with the Holy Father, the
This manual contains a number of elements for

global Church, one another, and most

you to use in different ways. It will be essential

importantly, with the Lord Jesus, who is the

to prepare ahead of time for these gatherings.

face of the Father’s mercy and who, with the
Father, sends the Holy Spirit to transform our
hearts and lives.

Included here are three (3) retreats to use
during the preparation process for World
Youth Day, a pilgrim blessing for sending forth,

Please familiarize yourself with all of the

an optional mission component, prayer

material presented in this guide in order to fully
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