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