World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 74
OPENING PRAYER
Scripture Reading
NOTE TO LEADER: You will need a “prayer
(Mt 28:16-20 – The Great Commission)
leader.” This could be you or one of the participants.
To open the session, the official WYD theme song (in
Reader:
English, Spanish, or Polish, or in the language(s) of the
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew:
participants) should be sung (with accompaniment) or
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
played (via a recording). Having Bibles and a worship
mountain to which Jesus had ordered
aid would be helpful.
them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but
they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said
Opening Hymn
to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has
World Youth Day Theme Song,
been given to me. Go, therefore, and make
“Blessed Are the Merciful”
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
Leader:
have commanded you. And behold, I am with
+ In the name of the Father,
you always, until the end of the age.”
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Silent Reflection
Jesus, we gather today in thanksgiving,
Leader: Take a moment of silence to allow the
to celebrate and to remember
words of Christ to penetrate our hearts.
our journey as pilgrims on World Youth Day.
After some time of silence:
May the graces you gave us on our pilgrimage
Reader:
deepen within us as we return home.
Let us reflect on these words of Pope Francis:
We ask that your Holy Spirit guide us
I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a
as we are sent forth into the world.
missionary impulse capable of transforming
We pray for the courage to go out
everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways
and “make disciples of all the nations.”
of doing things, times and schedules, language
We ask all of this in your name.
and structures can be suitably channeled for the
evangelization of today’s world rather than for
her self-preservation. (EG 27)
ALL: Amen.
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