The young Church is alive in SA

A year or so ago, I wrote an article in The Southern Cross called “Catholic heroes”. In it, I spoke about how we need more Catholic role-models and how awesome it is when people do stand up for Christ and live their faith in the world around us; especially when they use their gifts to build up the Church.

“Young people are searching for truth, searching for love. They are struggling, for sure, but are also finding peace in Christ and living for him.” (CNS photo/Ricardo Moraes, Reuters)

I don’t fully know if things have changed or if I’m just seeing with new eyes, but there is so much good happening and so many lives being changed and renewed in our Church in South Africa. Young people are searching for truth, searching for love. They are struggling, for sure, but are also finding peace in Christ and living for him.

There have been a few gatherings and events over the past few months which have been especially encouraging.

The recent “Catholic Youth Leaders’ Training Conference” in Cape Town was a joyful and life-giving weekend where leaders from around Southern Africa, and even from Uganda, came together to receive input on how to be better witnesses.

They were built up in the faith and left really excited about the part we youth leaders have to play in leading others to Christ.

The “Exalt” evening in Johannesburg in February saw teenagers and adults worshipping God in adoration and queuing for hours to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation.

There was a weekend away for young adults in Johannesburg who lead retreats based on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.

Young people (from different communities) are struggling with how to be pure, where to find true love and how to love genuinely in today’s society. Leaders on this retreat were no exception, but they’re finding truth in this teaching of freedom and are growing in what it means to live out holiness every day.

Some people think the Church is dying, irrelevant or out of date, that people are leaving and not many are living the faith. But this is not true. There is so much good and so many people living by the Spirit.

If you’re disheartened, isolated or feeling alone in your walk with God, don’t lose hope! Keep seeking, keep talking to others, Christ is there around you and there are others going through the same thing.

If you’ve seen the joy, the fruit of the Spirit, and great things happening in your community, I challenge you, share your joy, excitement and faith—we are Christ’s hands and feet.