World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 81
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION TIME
What are common needs?
NOTE TO LEADER: Take approximately
What are common ideas?
15 to 25 minutes to allow the participants to reflect
NOTE TO LEADER: If necessary, move post-it
on this discernment process.
notes around common themes or areas of focus. Pick one
SMALL GROUP REFLECTION TIME
theme/idea/commonality and invite discussion about
NOTE TO LEADER: Take approximately 20
how this might come to fruition. Have someone take
to 30 minutes to allow the participants to reflect together
notes. Listen closely to see if there are specific tasks that
on this discernment process, sharing what ideas or
can be assigned to move something forward.
thoughts came to the surface in the reflection time.
As time allows, work through the many ideas to help
LARGE GROUP PROCESSING
move things from an abstract idea to the concrete. Once
NOTE TO LEADER: Gathering everyone back
discussion is complete, close out the discernment process
into the large group, you can help guide the process.
with a commissioning service that concludes the retreat.
Leader: Now we bring some of the fruits of
CLOSING RITUAL/COMMISSIONING
our prayer time and small group time to the
NOTE TO LEADER: Assign a leader and a
large group. We invite you to capture the action
reader for this closing service. In addition, you will want
steps you feel called to take on large post-it
to have a small token or gift for each of the participants.
notes. Put one idea on each post it note.
This can be a cross, candle, symbol of a saint (i.e.
seashell for St. James, lily for St. Kateri Tekakwitha),
prayer card, or something from World Youth Day.
Then come forward when you are ready and
post your notes around the room under the
following categories: Individual Steps,
This commissioning piece may also be done during or at
Group Action Steps, Local Community
the conclusion of a Mass, if the retreat concludes with a
Steps, and Collaborative Steps.
liturgy and if the local pastor finds this appropriate
within the context of the Mass.
Give participants time to post their notes. When
Leader: We close our time together today
finished, the leader again addresses the group.
listening to the words of Jesus before he
ascended to the Father and before the
Leader: Here are some questions to consider:
What are we hearing and noticing?
What are common themes we notice?
Apostles received the Holy Spirit:
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