women present if they are considering new possibilities( and open to sharing). This sharing should be held in confidence and the pilgrims should be encouraged to pray for each other.
Closing Prayer End this session with a prayer for God’ s will to be done( and conclude with the Lord’ s Prayer). If time allows, consider a longer prayer using the patron saints and blesseds of WYDUSA( Consider printing out short bios and photos of these holy men and women):
Leader: Each of the guiding patrons of World Youth Day were called by God to something great. Choose one of the saints or blesseds below to spend ten minutes with today, asking them to pray for your discernment process.
Consider the following:
St. José Sánchez del Río courageously preferred to die for Christ than to renounce Him- martyred during the Mexican Revolution at the age of 14.
St. Juan Diego was a convert to the Catholic faith, visited by Our Lady of Guadalupe- he became the first indigenous saint from the Americas.
St. John Bosco was a priest that dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children – he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Bl. María Romero Meneses was a Salesian sister, a catechist to rich and poor alike, contributed greatly to social developments- she was the first person to be beatified in Central America.
Bl. Oscar Arnulfo Romero was an Archbishop of San Salvador known as the“ father of the poor” – he was martyred in El Salvador while celebrating Mass.
St. Martin de Porres was a lay brother of the Dominican Order, established orphanages and hospitals-he performed miraculous healings.
St. Rose of Lima is remembered for her chastity, asceticism, and care for the poor – she was the first saint of the Americas, patron of native peoples.
St. John Paul II was the Holy Father of the Catholic Church for 26 years – he founded World Youth Day, traveled the globe more than any pope in history, and was an advocate for young people in his priesthood, episcopacy, and papacy.
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