World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 68

locally. In order to alleviate this, you may

community (see above) can be helpful, as well

want to consider having the stateside pilgrims

as framing the event in a unified spirit of

share first about their experience when you

celebration, prayer, service and mission, and

gather both stateside and international

shared recommitment to the Gospel.

pilgrims together for the first time.
In a special way for the 2016 World Youth
As part of the sharing, consider what the next

Day gathering, since the Holy Father has

steps can be as a united community of youth

called for a universal Jubilee of Mercy for

and/or young adults. While both groups may

young people in the summer months, both

have entered the conversation with different

groups have been celebrating the Jubilee in

experiences of pilgrimage, the entire group

their own way (whether at home, in their

can leave the conversation with a collective

parish or diocese, or with the international

understanding of missionary discipleship.

community in Poland with Pope Francis).
This, then, can be the common bond for the

When speaking to those gathered, especially in

reconnection and mission. Using the

reference to the future, use language and

framework of the Jubilee of Mercy can be

direction that supports the notion of solidarity

helpful for bring both groups together and

and unity, hopefully alleviating any tension or

for using the same language in developing a

friction that may exist. Incorporating the

shared mission as a combined community of

broader understanding of pilgrimage and

young missionary disciples.

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