pilgrims have to trade . These trades are done informally throughout the week , en route to events , on the pilgrimage walk , or while waiting for events to begin . Trading is optional ; pilgrims should not worry if they do not have anything to trade . If pilgrims would like to trade things that represent the Roman Catholic experience in the U . S ., the WYDUSA office ( www . wydusa . org ) provides some items for purchase in advance of WYD . These include WYDUSA clothing , backpacks , blankets , water bottles , prayer cards , and posters . The USCCB Store has many other items that might be good trade items as well .
Three Opportunities to Never Pass Up There are three practical opportunities that leaders and their pilgrim groups should never pass up on a World Youth Day pilgrimage :
1 . Refill the water bottle ( whenever you see a public tap . It ’ s free and safe to drink !)
2 . Eat something ( from pilgrim pack meals or at local restaurants or vendors ), and
3 . Use the toilet ( at portable toilets , public restrooms , or at your lodging ).
Pilgrim groups should take advantage of these three key opportunities when they arise , because it is not always certain that another chance will come anytime soon .
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ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES Leading a WYD pilgrimage is a great experience , but it can be intimidating when you realize the awesome responsibility on your shoulders . A good pilgrimage leader assists his or her pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage experience and also in their continued formation as a disciple of Christ afterward .
The pilgrimage leader is a spiritual companion , tour guide , meeting planner , and risk manager all rolled up into one . This leader ’ s guide includes both the spiritual and practical elements that go into pilgrimage leadership . Balancing these elements is a challenge , but one that Lord has trusted you to embrace . What follows are some additional strategies for you in your own leadership experience of a group .
Tour Companies or Do-It-Yourself Organizing a WYD pilgrimage is a major undertaking and the amount of work can be daunting . Many larger pilgrim groups in the U . S . ( such as dioceses , eparchies , movements , or clusters of parishes ) hire a specialized travel company to take care of many of the details . Another advantage of hiring a travel company is that the company is there to assist you not only in advance , but on the ground . Before securing a particular organization or travel