World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 27

5. Prepare spiritually for your journey.
This small country is home to almost 4 million
people, and 85% are Catholic. Santuario
WYD is an event like none other. There are so Nacional Del Corazón De Mariá (The National
many components: visiting another country Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) is in
with its unique history, culture, and faith story; Panama City. While Panama does not have the
encountering people from around the world; most well-known Catholic traditions, it does
daily catechesis and prayer experiences; have a particular history – and it is important to
continually walking and traveling to various prepare to encounter that cultural experience.
activities, programs, and locations around the The spiritual preparation for WYD should also
host city; listening to inspiring words from the include equipping pilgrims to engage in the
bishops and the Holy Father; the jubilant daily catechesis with an open mind and heart.
Closing Mass, during which the pilgrims are Pilgrims should know that the catechetical
sent out on mission. sessions are opportunities to learn from great
teachers of the Catholic faith from around the
For pilgrims to fully experience these moments world and dialogue with them. Encourage
and recognize Jesus in their midst, they must be pilgrims to consider questions they may have
spiritually prepared. Pastoral leaders must help about various topics. Help your pilgrims see
their pilgrims not only with fundraising, safety themselves as “apprentices” in the Catholic
tips, and travel itineraries, but more importantly tradition, as the bishops and catechists of WYD
with faith formation and spiritual development. nurture their faith and support them as
missionary disciples. Leaders can assist the
One of the first spiritual dimensions to reflect bishops by helping to unpack the lessons of
on with pilgrims is the sacredness of the World Youth Day for their particular group,
physical destination. It is important to stress especially if anything is unclear.
how important the Catholic faith is to the
people of Panamá, the Caribbean and Central Another powerful moment of WYD that ought
America, and Latin America in general, and to be prepared for is the Friday evening Via
how integrated it is into their history, culture, Crucis (“Way of the Cross”) led by the Holy
art, and music. Spend some time talking about Father. At every WYD, the Stations of the
the holy sites that pilgrims will visit. Cross are brought to life in a way particular by
the host country. For instance, in 2011 in
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