National Youth Sunday – a Day dedicated to prayer and celebrations for the youth of the Church – falls on the Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 21 November 2010. This year’s theme is “Leap of Faith”, building on the Holy Father’s recent visit to the United Kingdom and Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman’s Motto “Heart Speaks Unto Heart”.
The online www.nationalyouthsunday.org.uk resources include reflections; activities, liturgy and music, videos from the Papal visit and peer-to-peer podcasts featuring young voices from the Diocese of Clifton.
In the podcasts, the young people talk about their own leaps of faith post Papal Visit:
Gerard, Bristol:
“(The Visit) has reaffirmed my faith and ensured that I continue to be a member of the Church and my local parish. I hope to take that further by getting more involved in the life of the parish community and with the youth of the diocese whether that is recording podcasts; helping out with get-togethers, or whether that’s going to World Youth Day next year in Madrid.”
Jonathan, Kingswood:
“I would like to be a police officer but at the minute it’s a test of patience…I keep on praying; keep having faith in God, hopefully something will come of it. At the minute it’s a leap of faith – I’m nearly there – just waiting to land.”
Olivia, Bristol:
“I can’t wait for World Youth Day next year. It’s incredible that I’ve been given this opportunity to go to Madrid. I just can’t wait.”
Tom, Swindon:
“(The Pope’s Visit) made me think about why I was applying for certain jobs and what was important to me.”
In his Address at the Hyde Park Vigil, Pope Benedict had this to say to young people:
“Dear young friends: only Jesus knows what “definite service” he has in mind for you. Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart: even now his heart is speaking to your heart. Christ has need of families to remind the world of the dignity of human love and the beauty of family life. He needs men and women who devote their lives to the noble task of education, tending the young and forming them in the ways of the Gospel. He needs those who will consecrate their lives to the pursuit of perfect charity, following him in chastity, poverty and obedience, and serving him in the least of our brothers and sisters. He needs the powerful love of contemplative religious, who sustain the Church’s witness and activity through their constant prayer. And he needs priests, good and holy priests, men who are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep. Ask our Lord what he has in mind for you! Ask him for the generosity to say “yes!” Do not be afraid to give yourself totally to Jesus. He will give you the grace you need to fulfil your vocation.”
In parishes up and down the country this weekend, priests will be reminding young people to ‘ask our Lord what “definite service” he has in mind for you!’
www.nationalyouthsunday.org.uk
ENDS
For further information, John Biggins, Strategic Development Officer, Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed): e-mail. john@cymfed.org
