World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 12
Please share the following:
What is a pilgrimage?
Name
Simple Fact – Hometown, Work, School,
intentional encounter with Christ on a
Parish (if done multi-parish/diocesan)
journey towards transformation through
Where did I go recently?
prayer, mission and acts of charity and
Whom did I meet there?
justice, catechesis and formation, the
What did I learn there? (What did I learn
experience of one another, the Sacraments
about myself, and about the people I met?)
(especially the Eucharist and Penance), our
The act of pilgrimage is about an
lived experiences, and an encounter with
Example: Hi, my name is Amanda, and I’m from St.
the universal Church.
Mary’s parish. Last week, I took a trip to the nursing
home to visit my grandmother. She just turned 85, and
it was her birthday. Whom did I meet there? I met one
Jesus was impacted by his encounters.
Being fully human, Jesus was a pilgrim who
of the nurses, and I learned that she was born in
journeyed through life alongside his
Poland! We talked about my upcoming trip to World
disciples and the people of his day. Because
Youth Day. I also met my grandmother’s roommate
Jesus was fully divine, the Church has been
Helen. I learned that she has 18 grandchildren, and
able to journey with him through the
she is sad because they rarely come to visit her.
centuries and continues to do so today.
Overview of the Retreat Process
NOTE TO LEADER: If you are doing all of the
Throughout his life, Jesus showed many
ways of being a pilgrim which echo our
retreats (which is recommended), please take time to
experience of being a pilgrim on the
remind pilgrims of the larger scope of this process. Use
journey of faith. Jesus encountered many
this or your own summary of that journey.
people from many different places – some
were sinners, fishermen, housewives,
Leader: The theme of our WYD formation
business owners, religious leaders, and
retreats centers around the idea that Jesus was
more, just as we encounter many on our
once a pilgrim too – and how he still walks with
own pilgrimage. Jesus, the face of the
pilgrims today. There will be four formation
Father’s mercy, manifested his Father’s
retreats (this is the first). Three retreats will be
mercy for others. He suffered and walks
done prior to WYD and one after WYD. We
with us in our suffering. As he was sent by
will be exploring the different ways Jesus was a
the Father, we are also sent in the power
pilgrim throughout his life and what he models
of the Holy Spirit.
for us as we embark on our own pilgrimage.
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