Reaching young people who no longer pray or attend church

Catholic Voices Comment

[Jack Valero] Look around any congregation at Mass in the UK and there’s one group that’s largely absent – young people. After Confirmation they simply disappear and may or may not return when they get married and have a family of their own.

This week 300 young people from across the world are in Rome to debate the issues and prepare a document that will be presented at the Synod of Bishops convoked by Pope Francis for next October on the topic of ‘Youth, faith and vocational discernment.’ On Monday 19th March the Pope spent the morning with them.

Pope Francis sits among the young people during the pre-synod meeting on 19 March

“Too often we talk about young people without asking what they think,” Pope Francis stated, adding that “even the best analysis on the world of youth, although useful, are no substitute for the need…

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“My Soul Thirsts for You”

For the last few weeks since the wedding, I’ve been in a bubble where nothing has seemed to have been fitting together. One particular thing that has been feeling out of whack has been that – so we thought – it was going to be difficult to get to Mass every week. You see, by … Continue reading “My Soul Thirsts for You”

10 Days and Counting…

10 days to go. I repeat, 10 days to go. This is not a drill!   What I have enjoyed the most about wedding planning: - Organising everything from scratch. I got so much praise from my arguably-disorganised venue coordinator when I sent over my tables of menu choices, and it had been something that … Continue reading 10 Days and Counting…

2 Months To Go

After Mass this evening, I was thinking about the ceremony that I will have had in exactly 2 months from now. The excitement of kneeling at the altar as I take the Blessed Sacrament as the institution of wife. The chance for me becoming the fuller version of myself ('levelling up' I believe is the … Continue reading 2 Months To Go

Lazarus and Death in Sin

Today's Gospel reading is the bittersweet, and well known, story of Jesus' raising of Lazarus. I say bittersweet because, although the miracle itself is important, we are shown a side of Jesus' humanity that not often comes to light in The Bible: his empathy and his pain. The mere tears of Mary drive Jesus to … Continue reading Lazarus and Death in Sin

Review of Image and Likeness

If St. John Paul II ever summarized his Theology of the Body, it may have been when he said, “Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” But how does this sincere gift look when lived out by human beings with all their failings? What happens to our humanity when we … Continue reading Review of Image and Likeness

Preparing for Flame 2017

I went to Flame in 2013 and it still sits with me as a wonderful time. One day, I will make my way back, but at the moment, I cannot afford the time or money to go. I would definitely recommend for any Catholic looking to share their faith with young people.

CAFOD blog

Leah and Ryan in Lebanon last year. Leah and Ryan in Lebanon last year.

We caught up with CAFOD volunteer Ryan who is getting ready to speak to over 8,000 people at the Catholic youth event, Flame 2017, at the SSE Arena, Wembley on March 11. Read on to find out more.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with CAFOD.

Currently, I am a volunteer at Savio House, the Salesian residential retreat centre. I really enjoy working with young people and helping them to build relationships with each other as well as with God. When I was in Y12 I joined the Cafod Young Leaders program in my school and as a part of this, I went to the Houses of Parliament to speak to my MP about climate change. From this, I continued to volunteer for a second year on the program with different people.

Buy your ticket to Flame…

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From Darkness, Light

This time last year, I was a bridesmaid at the wedding of one of my best friends. It was a happy and glorious occasion indeed, but it had certainly not been a smooth ride. They had originally planned to have a longer engagement, but pushed the wedding forward due to an unexpected gift of another … Continue reading From Darkness, Light

Sunday Scripture

Gospel reading for Sunday 4th September, 2016, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 26 'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. 27 No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple. 28 'And … Continue reading Sunday Scripture

7 Quick Takes: Exam Confidence

7 Quick Takes Friday is hosted by This Ain't the Lyceum. ~1~ Work at things until they’re rote. If revising a certain topic bores you, you're probably at the stage where you understand it. ~2~ Use acronyms, aphorisms, ascriptions. Start associating the names you probably won't remember by themselves with phrases that you'll be able … Continue reading 7 Quick Takes: Exam Confidence