World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 43

Spiritual Preparation

ministry announcements) in advance of the

If the goal of a local World Youth Day

stateside gathering, consider offering short

pilgrimage is to help young people encounter

moments of spiritual formation (prayers,

Jesus, then spending time in spiritual

Scripture verses, catechesis, explanations, etc.)

preparation is essential both for the event

for those who might be attending your events.

planners and participants.
In addition, prior to the stateside celebration,
In the publicity for the stateside celebration,

you can begin to physically gather together

or during the event itself, spend significant

local youth and/or young adults for prayer,

time talking and providing moments for

catechesis and formation, service and mission

pilgrims to reflect on the idea of going on

work, and/or for Eucharistic liturgies. Doing

pilgrimage (and self-identifying as “pilgrims”).

this will expand the scope and exhibit to the

This will enable the participants to more fully

community (and young people) that World

enter into the experience, just as those who

Youth Day and pilgrimages go beyond one-

travel overseas to the international World

day or weekend events. You may even offer

Youth Day are fully immersed there.

or host a preparation event in collaboration
with those leading an international pilgrimage
to World Youth Day in your local area.

Ask yourself questions about how prayer can
be a powerful component of the preparation
efforts for you as a pilgrim leader. In addition,

PLANNING TIP

how is your planning team praying together

Think big. Utilize an event like
the stateside World Youth Day
pilgrimage to help lay the
foundation for ministry growth in
your parish, region, or diocese.

for one another and for the young people
who will be participating? How can you
encourage individuals, colleagues, or particular
groups in parishes or collaborating
organizations commit to praying for the

Determine your big- picture
spiritual and ministerial goals
and allow WYD to grow that
possibility. For example, if you
want to grow a small group
ministry, use the small groups
during your World Youth Day
celebration and plan a postWYD small group series.

success of the stateside celebration and for the
youth and young adults who may embark on
the stateside pilgrimage?
In local communications (website, bulletins,
social media, parish or youth/young adult
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