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