World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 70

ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION

during the walk). Regardless of what is shared,

In Luke’s Gospel, the destination was

it is important to keep the spirit of

seemingly the place where the encounter

confidentiality with one’s walking partner by

experience was shared; but ultimately, Jesus was

sharing one’s own feelings and thoughts, not

present throughout the journey along the road

those expressed by others (without permission

to Emmaus, not just at the end.

to do so). It is important for leaders to remind
their group of this expectation when the
sharing begins at the destination site.

In the same way, when your group reaches its
physical destination (whether that be the
overnight prayer vigil at World Youth Day or

Looking forward, challenge the group to

another moment in preparation for the trip or

continue to walk with others at World Youth

during the activities of the week), the arrival is

Day and especially in their daily lives after the

an opportunity to share some of this experience

trip. Encourage them to be open to hearing

with others. A practical way to do this is to

other people’s stories, to be a listener more

share one way the pilgrims felt the presence of

than speaker, and to train themselves to

Christ in the story of another person (without

recognize God in the lives and moments

going into any private details that were revealed

of others, and in their own lives.

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