World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 7

The Pilgrims
Your role as an international WYD organizer is direction. The leader has a responsibility to see
not as an activities coordinator or a travel agent. each pilgrim as they are, with their own story
Rather, you have been called to be a pilgrim and with their own expectations. The leader
leader, accompanying young people on a looks with compassion and mercy on the
journey towards an encounter with Christ. people God has placed before him or her.
The hectic or mundane tasks of preparing Take time to get to know your pilgrims. Pray
youth and/or young adults for international for each one, by name, every day. Listen
travel can sometimes cloud the vision of what a attentively to their stories. Take an active
pilgrimage leader has been called to do. It is interest in their lives and situations. As a
critical, then, for you, as a WYD leader, to pilgrim leader, you represent a supportive
prayerfully reflect on what you are undertaking, pastoral presence in the lives of your pilgrims.
and for the pilgrims you will be with.
Putting together a pilgrimage can be all
Who are the young people who are going to consuming, but one of the most important
WYD in Panamá? They are sons and daughters responsibilities for the leader is to tend to the
of God. Each one has his or her own story. spiritual growth of the pilgrims entrusted to
They come with struggles and pain, as well as them. Without neglecting other essential
joys and anticipation. Some have great logistical tasks, the leader must seek to remain
expectations and excitement about WYD, while focused on Jesus and his love for the pilgrims.
others may be uncertain or skeptical about the
The Pilgrim’s Community
trip. Some are seeking direction; others for
affirmation of a path they are already on. Still
others are indifferent, going to WYD because The millions of pilgrims who travel to the
of external motives (i.e. friendship, overseas international World Youth Day are not isolated
travel opportunities, or adventure) or due to the individuals; they each have a family, parish,
expectations of others (i.e. parents). But they campus, diocese/eparchy, movement, and/or
are all heading to Panamá, looking to the local community that forms them, supports
pilgrimage leader, to you, for help and them, and sends them forth.
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