World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 49

company, it is important to check that their suited to young adults; others want to cut down
references and financial state. on the overseas travel risks and liability, since
minors (under 17) require closer supervision
On the other hand, there is great flexibility in and assistance. If your diocese/eparchy, parish,
developing a WYD pilgrimage on your own. or apostolic movement has decided to bring
The overall costs may be less and there may be minors to WYD, written parental permission
more options for transportation, and any documentation necessary for
accommodations, and mobility. While travel transporting minors abroad without their
companies will try to meet individual needs, parents or guardians must be obtained.
putting the trip together on your own allows
you to tailor it more nearly to the pilgrims’ Local communities can develop stateside WYD
needs. Additionally, you can set your own activities for those young people who do not go
deadlines for payments and other matters. to the international event – to give them an
opportunity to witness and experience WYD-
Pilgrim Age Concerns like events in their local diocese/eparchy or
Although the title of this event is World Youth parish community. A list of the stateside
Day, most of the world treats the international gatherings can be found at the WYDUSA
gathering as a “young adult” pilgrimage - many official website, www.wydusa.org.
of the pilgrims in Panamá will be in their
twenties. The standard recommended age for Research, Research, Research
this pilgrimage is 16 to 35, and over the past As previously noted, you should do extensive
few years, the core age of the U.S. pilgrims has research on WYD, the pilgrimage travel, stops,
been between 19 and 25. lodging site(s) and venues.
An increasing number of U.S. dioceses that If you are working with a travel company, be in
send pilgrims to WYD have shifted to a policy frequent contact with them as details of the trip
of bringing young adult pilgrims (age 18+). firm up. Some group leaders put together a
There are a number of reasons for this: some notebook for their staff members and
believe the WYD message, experience, and the volunteers that includes the important details
endurance and virtues needed for it, are more for each day of the pilgrimage as well as pilgrim
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