Encounter , Accompany , Send : The Role of the World Youth Day Pilgrimage Leader
Coordinating a stateside gathering for World Youth Day can be daunting . With all the logistics to worry about and the responsibility of spiritually accompanying young disciples , WYD can fill you with anxiety . Yet , thousands of people continually step forward and take on the mantle of the pilgrimage leader , both those internationally-bound and at-home in their native countries , in communion with the bishops and the Holy Father .
Co-Workers in the Lord ’ s Vineyard
“ The Lord does not keep his distance , but is near and real . He is in our midst and he takes care of us …” 8
Pope Francis preached these words at the Shrine of Czestochowa at WYD 2016 . He reminded the young people that Jesus Christ comes to encounter us in real and personal ways . He accompanies us , and sends us on mission to do the same in the lives of others . Jesus Christ is in our midst , encountering , accompanying , and sending . But the choice to engage in the encounter , to be accompanied , and to be sent is ours . It is never forced ; it is a free choice in response to an invitation from Jesus Christ .
The invitation from Jesus Christ comes in many ways . The ministry of a stateside pilgrimage leader is invaluable for assisting that invitation .
Stateside leaders serve WYD pilgrims in a unique and privileged way , by helping open the door to Jesus Christ through the experience . God has called many ministry leaders to the important service of being coworkers in his vineyard . The stateside leader , then , is engaged in the evangelizing work of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church that sends the baptized on mission to encounter , accompany , and send others . Facilitating a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ and his Church , and sending missionary disciples forth into the world , is the goal of any Catholic pastoral leader .
ENCOUNTER There are a variety of encounters that take place in a WYD pilgrimage , stateside or otherwise : with Jesus , with the Church , with other pilgrims , and with anyone who is
8 Pope Francis , Homily for Mass on the Occasion of XXXI World Youth Day , Kraków , July 28 , 2016 , 5 .
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