World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 31

Questions to prompt large group discussion

Questions to prompt large group discussion

on this particular topic:

on this particular topic:



How do we encounter each other as



“catholic” at World Youth Day?


“apostolic”?

What is so special about the universal



aspect of World Youth Day that we cannot


priests and religious, bishops, and the Pope

How do we approach those of different

at World Youth Day?


all called to be “catholic” (universal) in our


Experiencing the Church at World Youth

Pope Francis said: “The Church must step

Day (and in our lives) as an institution, with

outside herself. To go where? To the outskirts

the leadership of lay leaders, priests and

of existence, whatever they may be, but she

religious, bishops, and the Pope.

must step out. Jesus tells us, ‘Go into all the

Following Tradition and teaching of the

world! Go! Preach! Bear witness to the Gospel!’

Church handed down through the ages

– But what happens if we step outside

Learning about Apostles and Fathers of the

ourselves? The same can happen to anyone

Church who first unpacked Jesus’ teaching


who comes out of the house and onto the

Respecting the leadership of the

street: an accident. But I tell you, I far prefer a

community, not putting them down if they

Church that has had a few accidents to a

proclaim things with which we are

Church that has fallen sick from being closed.

uncomfortable.


Go out, go out!” (Address to the Lay Movements on

Considering a calling to Church leadership:

the Vigil of Pentecost, May 18, 2013)

lay ministry, diaconate, priesthood, and
consecrated life.


How do we, as pilgrims, participate in the
apostolic experience of the Church?

D. The Church is APOSTOLIC:



Why is this important to the experience of
being an “apostolic” Church?

relationship with God?



What does it mean to encounter lay leaders,

diocesan experience of the Church?
faiths or no belief, recognizing that we are



How do we encounter each other as
“apostolic” at World Youth Day?

already get from our local parish or


How does Christ encounter us as

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

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