World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 63
Pilgrim Blessing for World Youth Day
In the days or weeks prior to departure,
NOTE TO LEADER: One suggestion is that
consider inviting all World Youth Day
members of the local community write down their prayers
pilgrims from the local community (parish,
on sheets of paper and give those papers to the young
campus, movement, or diocese) for a Pilgrim
people at this time. If this has happened, the following
Blessing after a regularly-scheduled liturgy or a
may be added to the presider’s remarks:
special Mass. As a sign of solidarity, it may also
be helpful to include youth and/or young
We now entrust our prayers to you. Carry them
adults traveling internationally to Poland as
along the way to the mountaintop of World
well as those celebrating stateside. It is also
Youth Day and pray for these intentions each
important to include families and adult
day as you make the journey. Light candles
members of the broader community, as the
or place them before the Lord at one of the
young people are sent forth from the local
shrines, sanctuaries, or churches you will visit.
Church on to pilgrimage.
We entrust them now to you, for you carry the
thoughts and intentions of this community.
Near the end of a Mass, following the Prayer
after Communion, the bishop, priest, or deacon
We, here, will be praying for your journey, for
calls forth the World Youth Day pilgrims, and
safe travel, and for your spiritual and physical
introduces the blessing with these words:
needs. You will remain in our thoughts and
prayers wherever you may go from here today.
Presider: The time is growing short before you
embark on the next stage of your pilgrimage.
NOTE TO LEADER: The leader of the group
Your local community supports you in this
comes forward to introduce the pilgrims.
endeavor, and we would Ɩ