The Church’s biggest challenges are also its biggest opportunities and change must come from the grassroots, this was the message Archbishop Eamon Martin gave to the about 250 people who attended the 14th Catholic Young Adults Conference in All Hallows College, Dublin at the weekend.
Organised by the Legion of Mary under the theme ‘Mary went in Haste’ the two days saw a series of talks, discussion, testimony and sharing on faith issues. Participants could choose from a number of workshops such as ‘What is a soul’, ‘Computer use and prayer life’, Seeking spiritual happiness’ and ‘New age and occult’.
In his address on Saturday afternoon Archbishop Eamon spoke on the theme of ‘Challenges and opportunities for young people in the Church today’. He said many people who dutifully go to Mass each week, particularly young people, don’t have a relationship with Jesus and “that’s one of our biggest challenges in the Church today, because after a while people stop doing things out of duty if it doesn’t mean something to them”.
Archbishop Eamon told the conference there was “a hunger to understand our faith” and that the answer to that must begin on the ground by groups of people like themselves.
In his homily on Sunday morning, the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown encouraged the young adults to prioritise prayer and study of the Catechism so as to be able to give the light of Christ to a world in urgent need of God. The variety of apostolates of the Legion of Mary were highlighted by various members engaged in prison visitation, home visitation, work with those on the margins of society and those present were encouraged to consider getting involved in apostolate in the Church.
This call to action was re-echoed by Fr John Harris OP in his closing address to the young people. “The future of the Irish Church is being written today,” he said. “You have to bring Christ to those around you. If you don’t do it, who will?”