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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