World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 29







Vocations and callings, including:

Leader: Each week at Mass, we pray together

Marriage, Priesthood, Religious Life,

the Creed. This same Creed is prayed in every

Single Life, Consecrated Life, Mission,

Catholic parish, in every language and culture,

and Lay Ecclesial Ministry

and around the world. It is a statement of faith

Living the Pascal Mystery, recognizing

that is shared among Catholics (and even

the moments of “life, death, and

among many other Christian denominations).

resurrection” in our lives and how those

In the Creed, we pray these words: “I believe in

moments draw us closer to Christ’s

one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” We

own suffering, death, and resurrection

call these the four marks of the Church. The

Church Teaching (e.g. the Catechism of

Church is marked with these characteristics,

the Catholic Church, the documents of

given to us by Christ, which help us understand

Vatican II, encyclicals and other papal

the Church’s mission. Today, we’re going to use

writings, Bible study, etc.)

the four marks of the Church to talk about the
ways we encounter Christ in the Church, and

One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic

the ways we are called forth to encounter

It is recommended to use selections from Part One,

others as disciples of Jesus. With each of these

Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Nine (“I Believe

areas, we offer a few examples to get us started.

in the Holy Catholic Church”) in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church (748-975), in particular

A. The Church is ONE:

811-870. Focus on areas that help pilgrims better



understand the four marks of the Church, so that this

Praying at World Youth Day liturgies in
many languages, but as one body.

can be a guided large-group conversation between the



Praying with the Communion of Saints,

facilitator and the participants. Focus especially on the

and in a special way, the WYD patron

ways pilgrims can encounter Christ through the Church.

saints.

Help participants make the connection that these are



Sacraments, Prayer, and other

elements that are shared among the Church throughout

devotions, at World Youth Day, but

the whole world and in a particular way by the pilgrims

also in daily life.

at World Youth Day. You may also invite past World



Stateside celebrations praying in

Youth Day pilgrims to participate and share their

solidarity with pilgrims around the

experiences as they relate to the Church.

world and in Kraków.


(open the conversation to retreat participants
and World Youth Day alumni)

27