The Pope's Message for World Youth Day 2013

Check out this link -> http://www.zenit.org/article-35979?l=english  to see the Pope's message for all pilgrims coming to Rio for World Youth Day this July.  Seriously take a look and read.  For realz.  It is amazing:)

I encourage all of you readers to spend some time reflecting on the words of the Holy Father...for they are not just us pilgrims traveling to Rio, but for all people.  

I know our group of our pilgrims will be spending some time praying, reflecting, and discussing this as our own family of pilgrims.  

For me personally, I really take something from the theme for this upcoming WYD: "Go and make disciples of all nations!" (Matthew 28:19).  We cannot wait to be disciples, to help bring other people to Jesus...the world needs us, needs YOU.  Being a missionary doesn't necessarily mean you have to trek it off to Africa to some mission outpost, but being a missionary means using the God-given gifts and talents and your current life to help bring Jesus to other people.  All baptized Christians are missionaries.

The Pope calls and challenges those who are preparing for embarking on this upcoming World Youth Day pilgrimage...may each of us take seriously our call to live as an "intentional disciple" of Jesus Christ and to take seriously our call to be missionaries of God's love in this world!

God bless :)

If you were looking for Christ on September 28, He was hanging out with our World Youth Day pilgrims; enjoying some tasty lasagna, playing games, talking about discipleship, and enjoying smores around the perfect fall bonfire.

Our most recent pilgrim bonding gathering was hosted by one of our youth pilgrims, Lauren.  We enjoyed a dee-lic Italian meal complete with the autumn classics of Apple cider and fresh donuts.  As we finished eating, Lauren got our ice breaker going.  We all came up with different questions to write, and whomever picked it had to answer it.  They were everything from the top 5 countries you would want to visit to do you prefer a hamburger or cheeseburger...the point is to get each other talking and get to know our pilgrim family a little bit better.  Then we gathered inside to watch a 15 minute DVD on modern Christian discipleship.  We had a large group discussion afterward on what that means and looks like for each of us in our lives right now.  Everybody has interesting thoughts and perspectives to share.  The DVD was focused on this particular WYD theme, "Go make disciples of all nations!" (Matthew 28:19).

Afterwards, we headed outside to enjoy this beautiful fall weather with a bonfire...and of course, what bonfire is complete without the making of smores!?!?!?  Over tasty treats and lots of laughter, we ended another night of pilgrim family bonding for the WYD pilgrims of Holy Family.
Our next gathering will be at the beginning of November at our male chaperones house, Deacon Kevin.

Be sure to look for the WYD pilgrims at the first Coffee/Donuts on October 14, as we will be working side by side with Youth Ministry to help serve and give back to the parish.

Continue to keep the six of us in your prayers, and please know all of you remain in ours!

                                    Smiles all around, as we finish another WYD pilgrim bonding event :-)

Greetings Family, Friends, and Parishioners of Holy Family!

Welcome to the official World Youth Day Blog for our 6 pilgrims traveling to Rio in July 2013 from Church of the Holy Family in Novi. This blog is an opportunity for you all to stay in touch with our pilgrims, follow us during our preparations, virtually join us in spirit while we are in Rio de Janeiro for the WYD festivities!

One part of our preparation for such a pilgrimage is the spiritual formation. It is critical that we spiritually prepare ourselves so that we may be fully open to receive all the Holy Spirit has for us on this pilgrimage. So over the course of the year, each pilgrim will take a turn hosting everybody else at their home for food, fellowship, and some type of spiritual formation based on the World Youth Day theme. Our first gathering was at our fearless leader's house, Patty Hubbard. After some pizza and snacks, we broke out into small discussion groups (1 adult to 1 young person). Because we are small, each young person will have the opportunity to have an adult mentor. We discussed everything from what does your cranky look like to what is the difference between vacation and pilgrimage. It was a great time for the adults to really start to personally get to know their young person, and vice versa. Then we had a large group discussion on what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in 2012. After that, we read a chapter from an AMAZING book on discipleship called "Positively Dangerous." We talked about how critical it is to walk the talk as we strive to be faithful followers of Jesus. After more sharing and reflection as a large group, we personally reflected and journaled on our own call as a disciple of Jesus. All in all, a GREAT start as we become a WYD family!
Our next gathering is at the end of September...and we will have an extra special guest join us too, Fr. Bob LaCroix, our pastor! We are so blessed to have his support and prayers as we begin this journey together.

As I close with this first official post, I leave you with this video. It is a reflection on past World Youth Day's and was used in promotion for WYD Madrid 2011. Watch it...enjoy...and continue to keep our pilgrims in your prayers as we ready our hearts and minds for this life changing event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxOTpuQe6M4


God Bless!