World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 33

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION TIME

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION TIME

NOTE TO LEADER: Take approximately 15 to

NOTE TO LEADER: Take approximately 20 to

25 minutes to allow the participants to reflect on the

30 minutes to allow participants to join together in

catechesis and witness. Have the pilgrims use the

discussion; use the questions from individual reflection

following questions to guide their reflection:

time to guide the conversation around the small groups.





When and how have you

CLOSING PRAYER/RITUAL

encountered Christ in your own

NOTE TO LEADER: Following the small group

experience of the Church?

discussion, return to the large group and conclude the

What does the Catholic Church

session with a closing prayer such as the following.

mean to you?






Where do you see evidence of Jesus’

Leader: Today, we reflected on Jesus, who

life and ministry at work in the Church

encountered people just like us in need of

today? How does that make a

healing, forgiveness, mercy and love. We talked

difference for you personally?

about the ways in which Jesus encounters the

What mark of the Church do you most

Church today and sends us forth to be Church

resonate with (one, holy, catholic,

in the world. As we close, I invite you to name

apostolic)? With which of them do you

a word or phrase that clarifies what you are

struggle, or in which do you need to

taking from this experience about how you are

grow more going forward?

feeling and what you are taking with you from

What do the popes, or in a special way

this time together.

Pope Francis, mean to me? How does



his ministry impact my experience of

Naming of Graces:

the Church, of Christ, and my faith?

NOTE TO LEADER: Light a candle and pass the

Who are bishops, priests, religious,

candle to each person. Each person shares the grace he or

deacons, or lay ministers who have

she received from God today. A “grace” can include a

impacted my experience of the Church

blessing or moment of illumination or understanding.

and of Christ and my faith?


How can I learn to encounter others
and live in solidarity with others within
the Church at World Youth Day and on
an international level?

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