World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 74
Ask them how they see the vocations of
community. Pilgrims may have experienced
priesthood, consecrated life, and marriage and
being with many vowed religious in their
family, as well as the Lord’s call to those in
stateside experience in a way to which they
single life and the call to lay ministry or
may not be accustomed. This will help them
another form of service to the Church, in light
reflect on their own vocation and where and
of their World Youth Day experience. Ask
how God might be calling them to serve.
them if the events confirmed or changed any
previously-held thoughts on these vocations
Assemble a panel including one or more of
or callings. Ask if World Youth Day may have
the following: a married couple; a religious
made them open to the possibility of pursuing
brother and/or sister; a priest; a deacon; a lay
these vocations more intentionally and, if so,
ecclesial minister (single or married); and a
what they are considering doing in response
single lay person discerning and living out
to those thoughts or feelings, which are often
God’s call in a particular form of work or
promptings of the Holy Spirit to pray and
service; it would be good if all or some of the
discern. Have time for the group to share with
panelists have been to (or were inspired to
each other in small groups or a large group,
their vocation through) a stateside or
depending on the number of people present.
international World Youth Day (or who have
The goal here is not to push anyone into any
been regularly involved in ministry with youth
discernment/vocation process, but to have
or young adults locally or nationally), though
conversations that open their minds and
this is not a requirement.
hearts to the possibilities. Also, it is meant to
encourage a greater awareness of the Lord’s
Begin by having the panelists ask the pilgrims
call each day of our lives.
the following questions:
Activity: Vocations Panel
What brought you the most joy during
your World Youth Day experience?
This discussion and Q&A activity will
encourage World Youth Day Pilgrims to
Who seemed to be the happiest people
that you met while you were there?
reflect on the call to a particular vocation. The
goal is to help pilgrims realize that all of us
What thing that you do makes you the
happiest?
have a vocation, but some of us have a calling
to a particular way of living out our lives that
After discussing these questions, have a
is in relationship to the larger Church
panelist or the leader invite them to think
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