Faith-filled young people

Photo: Confirmation Mass - at St. Peter's, Calgary.

This Easter Season I will once again have the opportunity to visit parishes, meet young people and their families, and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation.  In the months preceding the celebration of Confirmation at the parish, young people have completed a period of catechesis through a parish-based sacramental program which was offered in person or on-line due to the pandemic. The reception of this sacrament completes their initiation into the life of Christ and the Catholic Church. They are prepared by the priests and lay catechists in learning about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit which they receive in the Sacrament. They deepen their understanding of the Faith through study, by engaging in apostolic service activities, and exploring the lives of the Saints who witnessed to Christ in ways that they can relate to in their lives.

The candidates also write a letter to the Bishop and express in their own words why they are choosing to be confirmed.  In many instances they describe the example of sacrifice that they recognize in their mother or father a concrete sign of love that supports the family. In their own words they also sense that they are called to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, and to be more faithful in living their faith by becoming a better person in drawing closer to Christ. These are the seeds of hope that I read and which are inspiring young people in the Church now.
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During this Marian month of May, Pope Francis offers this prayer for young people, “We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.”

Young people are naturally inclined to identify with our Mother Mary. Our Blessed Mother faced a challenging moment of discernment in her youth, a moment that tested the strength of her faith and trust in God, the Father.  Yet courageously, with her ear inclined to listen to the Lord, and her heart open to serving the purpose He set before her, she answered, “yes.”  Young people can reflect this courage and determination. In their zeal for social justice initiatives, their care of creation, and their commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, young people give witness to their Faith. And to pursue and accomplish these good works, young people need to engage in prayerful discernment supported by their families and the faith community of our Catholic schools and parishes.
 
It is this invitation that Pope Francis extended to young Catholics in his prayer intention for the Marian month of May which has been captured on video.

The video begins with six empty chairs which quickly become filled by three generations of a family: grandparents, parents and children – all of whom share a role in the discernment process. As Pope Francis speaks about the importance of family, a girl draws an image which gradually is revealed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. Addressing the youth, Pope Francis points to Mary as a role model for young people.  The Holy Father highlights the attributes and gifts of Mary’s faith that continue to inspire young people today.
 
Pope Francis issued a pastoral document entitled, Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment in 2018.  The three sections of the document provide a much deeper reflection upon the themes presented in the video.

• The first section presents the importance of schools and parishes in the lives and spiritual development of young people while stressing the need for authentic witnesses to the faith especially the laity who are formed pastorally to accompany young people alongside the clergy.
• The second section examines the development of the mission and vocation of young people and the essential elements of accompaniment and discernment which can support them at critical times in their personal and faith development.
• The third section outlines the synodal dynamic of “listening” for the Church and the need to move from "I" to "we", from “me” to “us”. The Holy Father recognizes that this is important to help young people understand the varied perspectives and cultures which they will experience in society today and in which they will be required to engage in dialogue and collaborative service throughout their lives.

 
In Christus Vivit, Pope Francis states, “If we journey together, young and old, we can be firmly rooted in the present, and from here, revisit the past and look to the future. To revisit the past in order to learn from history and heal old wounds that at times still trouble us. To look to the future in order to nourish our enthusiasm, cause dreams to emerge, awaken prophecies and enable hope to blossom. Together, we can learn from one another, warm hearts, inspire minds with the light of the Gospel, and lend new strength to our hands.”  (Christus Vivit #199)
 
Young people are the future of the Church at a time yet to be and they are the now in the present moment. Through receiving Confirmation and being sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit we cannot underestimate young people in their contribution to the ongoing synodal process of the Church. I encourage every youth ministry group, school, classroom, campus ministry group and others to see the synodal process as one that invites a dialogue with the voice of our youth and their experience of living the faith. The Church, especially the Bishop, needs to hear the voices of our faith-filled young people!

Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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​May 15, 2022