Families, youth and young adults came to celebrate young people for World Youth Day on the feast of Christ the King. Pope Francis has invited Dioceses across the world to celebrate young people in the life and mission of the Universal Church.
The celebration began with a Mass led by Archbishop Christopher, who explored the openness of young people to the faith. He spoke on World Youth Day, saying that “every year there is a Diocesan celebration and this is the day for that. All around the world, young people are gathering in the Cathedral with their Bishops and, as the young people do so well, bringing people together in such a festive way.”
The festivities continue with the celebration behind the Cathedral in Haydon Hall for a ‘picnic in the piazza’ to celebrate together.
Deacon Eden Langlands, ordained only a few days prior, said that the feast of Christ the King was about a “persistent and very gentle knocking at the door, inviting me to open up and allow the Lord to enter into my life.”
The event celebrated the diversity of our faith community, with the presence of young families from the Neocatechumenal Way, Youth for Christ and Couples for Christ and a wide variety of parishes, movements and ecclesial communities who gathered on the day.
This vibrant scene of joy included a time of music and worship led by Archdiocesan music ministry – ‘Cana’ – and Youth for Christ music ministry. We look forward to deepening this opportunity to gather, pray and celebrate our young Church in years to come.
Christopher Gilroy,
Youth Ministry Development Officer
