World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 18

through the community of faith. The parish is Conclusion: Be Not Afraid
the source for the sacraments, faith formation, Christ continually reminds us: “Do not be
and service to the poor and suffering, yet afraid...” (Mt 28:10). The WYD experience,
leaders and pilgrims cannot remain within the with its massive size and participation of lay
comfort of the parish. All Christians need to leaders, priests, deacons, and religious, bishops,
move outward and bring others to encounter and the Holy Father himself, reminds us that
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Christ.
Leaders and pilgrims are encouraged
we are not alone on this journey as leaders.
to look beyond parish boundaries and buildings Pilgrimage leaders should know that they are
to find places where the call to missionary united with leaders around the world and that
discipleship can be lived out. those leaders can be a wealth of information
and advice. As Pope Francis told the crowd in
Missionary disciples are sent to not only preach, Rio de Janeiro as they were about to embark on
but to heal (see Lk 9:2,10:9). The world needs so a mission of service, and which can be applied
much healing. All the baptized can and must be to the work of the pilgrimage leader today:
bearers of love, which is the only thing that can
heal the soul. Leaders may be able, by the help Jesus did not say: “one of you go”, but “all
of the Holy Spirit, to identify and help heal the of you go”: we are sent together…be aware
wounds that they see in the young people in of the companionship of the whole Church
their care. The pilgrims who experience this and also the communion of the saints on
healing ministry from their leaders may, in turn, this mission. When we face challenges
help to heal those around them in the future. together, then we are strong, we discover
resources we did not know we had. 26
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26
See Evangelii Gaudium, no. 121.
Homily for Closing Mass on the Occasion of the XXVIII
World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro, July 28, 2013, 2.
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