World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 10

Encounter, Accompany, Send: The Role of the World Youth Day Pilgrimage Leader
Leading a group of people on an international trip can be daunting. With all the logistics to worry about and the responsibility of spiritually accompanying a cohort of disciples, WYD can fill you with anxiety. Yet, thousands of people continually step forward and take on the mantle of a pilgrimage leader, in communion with the bishops and the Holy Father.
Co-Workers in the Lord’ s Vineyard
“ The Lord does not keep his distance, but is near and real. He is in our midst and he takes care of us …” 1
Pope Francis preached these words at the Shrine of Czestochowa at WYD 2016. He reminded the young people that Jesus Christ comes to encounter us in real and personal ways. He accompanies us, and sends us on mission to do the same in the lives of others. Jesus Christ is in our midst, encountering, accompanying, and sending. But the choice to engage in the encounter, to be accompanied, and to be sent is ours. It is never forced; it is a free choice in response to an invitation from Christ.
The invitation from Jesus Christ comes in many ways. The work of an international leader is invaluable for assisting that invitation.
Pilgrimage leaders serve WYD pilgrims in a unique and privileged way, by helping open the door to Jesus Christ through the experience. God has called many ministry leaders to the important service of being co-workers in his vineyard. The group leader, then, is engaged in the evangelizing work of the Church through the grace of the Holy Spirit who sends the baptized on mission to encounter, accompany, and send others. Facilitating a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ and his Church, and sending missionary disciples forth into the world, is the goal of any Catholic pastoral leader.
ENCOUNTER There are a variety of encounters that take place at World Youth Day: with Jesus, the Church, other pilgrims, and others along the way. Each of these encounters is an opportunity to experience Christ. The international pilgrimage leader helps to make those encounters possible, memorable, and lasting.
1 Pope Francis, Homily for Mass on the Occasion of XXXI World Youth Day, Kraków, July 28, 2016, 5.
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