Christian witness arises from friendship with the Lord, who was crucified and rose for the salvation of all. Jesus chose to call his disciples “friends.” He made known to them the Kingdom of God, asked them to remain with him, to become his community, and sent them to proclaim the Gospel (cf. Jn 15:15, 27). So when Jesus tells us, “Be witnesses,” he is assuring us that he considers us as his friends. He alone fully knows who we are and why we are here; young people, he knows your heart, your indignation in the face of discrimination and injustice, your desire for truth and beauty, for joy and peace. Through his friendship, he listens to you, motivates you, and guides you, calling each of you to a new life.
With these words, Pope Leo XIV greets the young people of the world in his first World Youth Sunday. In Rome this past August, he greeted one million young adults (including a group of young pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Birmingham) at the Jubilee Gathering for Youth.
This Sunday, as the Church celebrates the Kingship of Christ, a moment of joyful hope, it is always a good coincidence that the Church celebrates the place of young people in our parishes, schools, chaplaincies and homes.
As you read this, think of the young people in our parishes who take their faith seriously, who are an inspiration simply by sensing God’s goodness in their hearts and who put this at the service of others: altar servers, singers and musicians, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, those who exercise hospitality in their parish; members of the SVP and Mini Vinnies.
Throughout the Scriptures, the voices of young prophets spoke the truth and proclaimed justice.
Young Saints of the Church have highlighted the voice of God speaking to young hearts in every generation. This past year, the Church has rejoiced in the proclamation of two new young saints: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati!
In the Archdiocese of Birmingham, youth ministry has always been a priority and our diocesan youth service, the Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT), leads residential retreat experiences at Alton Castle and Soli Retreat Centres in North Staffordshire; school chaplaincy and formation which impacts on thousands of lives of children, young people and staff in our schools; and the Birmingham Catholic Youth Service works with parish youth leaders.
I thank all of the staff of the Kenelm Youth Trust and the amazing volunteers in deaneries and parishes who support this work throughout the year.
You won’t be surprised to know that the funding of this work is always a challenge, despite every effort to seek grant funding.
The Second Collection this Sunday is for the work of the Kenelm Youth Trust and I ask you to give as generously as you can. Hopefully there will be a young person giving an appeal on behalf of KYT and the way in which their involvement in the life of the Church has been positive.
Can I encourage you to spend a few minutes looking at the KYT website: www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk
If you haven’t had direct contact with youth ministry over the past decade, you will be surprised to see the breadth of this work.
And once you have seen the work and how vital the ministry with young people is now and in an uncertain future, I invite you to consider your own fundraising for this special area of the life of the Church. Remember the Kenelm Youth Trust in wills and bequests: your gift to the Church in the next generation.
For now, you might wish to support such projects as:
Sponsoring one of our gap year volunteers; funding children in poorer schools who cannot afford residential retreat experiences; supporting a young person to go on a life-changing pilgrimage to Lourdes where they will spend their time caring for sick pilgrims.
I am very happy to hear from you if you want to know more.
Thank you for whatever you feel able to do.
May God bless all of our young people whose presence in our Church is a gift.
May God bless us all as we reflect on our own youth in our life of faith and how it laid foundations for the faith we live today.
Bishop Timothy Menezes
Chair of Trustees, Kenelm Youth Trust
bishop.menezes@rcaob.org.uk
Photograph taken at the KYT Jubilee Day in July
