World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 38
evening prayer vigil (on Saturday), culminating
time on the schedule for reconciliation or
with the Concluding Mass (on Sunday). Are
make them available throughout the program.
there ways that you can utilize technology to
Regardless, access to this Sacrament is a key
pray with the Holy Father and the
component that should be integrated into the
international community live (or record and
prayer experiences of your celebration.
watch portions of the international prayer
later in the schedule)? Help provide a
Music and Food
powerful pilgrimage experience by
Music in prayer and celebration is a powerful
incorporating new prayer experiences or
tool to highlight the local culture of the World
moving images of faith as a part of prayer.
Youth Day host country. In what ways can
Consider having a candlelight Mass or
you highlight the music or cultural traditions
Eucharistic procession, prayer with icons,
of the host country, as well as the musical
veneration of the cross, multilingual prayer,
elements of the various World Youth Day
the Via Crucis, and so forth.
experiences internationally? Is there also a way
to highlight the musical talent of your local
PLANNING TIP
community at the stateside event?
Did you know there is an official
World Youth Day cross and icon
that travels the world in preparation
for World Youth Day? Consider
making a replica for your local
celebration or using another
significant local symbol of faith and
sharing it around parishes in your
Diocese in preparation for your
local pilgrimage.
Consider featuring one of the songs from the
World Youth Day Concluding Mass or a
devotional or traditional hymn from the host
country in the native language. Every World
Youth Day includes an official theme song
released in the language of the native country,
which may also be available in several other
languages (for WYD 2016, the theme song is
Another major component of the
“Blessed Are The Merciful,” with sheet music
international gathering is the accessibility of
and lyrics in English and Spanish available
the Sacrament of Reconciliation at various
online at www.wydusa.org). Consider using
locations and on almost all the days of the
this song as a part of your local pilgrimage in
World Youth Day experience. Consider
solidarity with millions throughout the world
inviting several confessors to be part of your
who are also singing versions of this hymn.
stateside event; you can either have a special
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