World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 17

Encounter, Accompany, Send:
The Role of the World Youth Day Pilgrimage Leader
Coordinating a successful stateside gathering

on mission. The encounter, the

for World Youth Day can be daunting for

accompanying, and the sending do not just

anyone. With all the logistics to worry about

happen on their own. As Pope Francis said,

and the responsibility of spiritually

Jesus Christ “goes before us and guides us.”

accompanying a cohort of disciples, any type

The choice to engage in the encounter, to be

of World Youth Day gathering can fill

accompanied, and to be sent is ours, though.

ministry leaders with great anxiety. Yet despite

It is never forced; it is a free choice in

this, pastoral leaders continue to step forward

response to an invitation from Jesus Christ.

and take on the mantle of a pilgrim leader,
stateside or internationally, in communion

The invitation from Jesus Christ comes in

with the Holy Father.

many ways. The ministry of the stateside
pilgrimage leader is invaluable for assisting

'Do not be afraid!' When we go to

that invitation.

proclaim Christ, it is he himself who goes
before us and guides us. When he sent his

These leaders serve World Youth Day

disciples on mission, he promised: 'I am

pilgrims in a unique and privileged way, by

with you always' (Mt 28:20). And this is

helping open the door to Jesus Christ who

also true for us! Jesus does not leave us

encounters, accompanies and sends those

alone, he never leaves you alone! He

who participate in the experience. God has

8

always accompanies you.

called many ministry leaders to the important
service to be co-workers in his vineyard. The

Pope Francis preached these words to over

pilgrimage leader, then, is engaged in the

three million people gathered on Copacabana

evangelizing work of the Holy Spirit in and

Beach in Rio de Janeiro and millions more

through the Church that sends the baptized

around the world who participated in World

on mission to encounter, accompany, and

Youth Day 2013. He gave everyone a

send others. Pictures, mementos, and

mandate to live their encounter with Jesus

memories are not the only things that should

Christ, trusting that he accompanies and sends

be left from the experience of stateside and

8

Pope Francis, Homily for Closing Mass on the Occasion of
XXVIII World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro, July 28, 2013, 2.

15