Mini World Youth Day: Good Job and Now onto Panama!

by Erin Carelse · February 8, 2018

The apostolic nuncio commended the bishops of Southern Africa for giving such importance to the ministry to youth. Youth ministry was on the bishops’ agenda, especially with the worldwide Synod of Bishops in the Vatican in October focusing on youth.

Addressing the bishops at their plenary session, papal nuncio Archbishop Peter Wells also emphasised that they should be vigilant in ensuring that the safeguarding of children and protection of minors is one of their main priorities, as the Church continues to stand strong and unshaken against the abuse of the vulnerable.

Mini World Youth Day Report Back

National youth chaplain Fr Mthembeni Dlamini CMM reported back on Mini World Youth Day, which was held in Durban in December.

In spite of challenges that arose, Fr Dlamini said the general feeling of young people was that MWYD went very well and that they appreciated the experience they were given. He said there was a widespread wish that an event of the same nature be organised soon.

Fr Dlamini also thanked the organising teams which worked hard for two years to stage MWYD.

Onto Panama

The bishops thanked Fr Dlamini and the organisers. Some of the bishops who were at MWYD voiced their appreciation of the good work done by the SACBC secretariat and others.

Fr Dlamini said the SACBC now has to give attention to World Youth Day, to be held in Panama in January 2019.

He also appealed to the bishops to value young Catholics by choosing the best chaplains for them, so that there is good cooperation between the SACBC Youth Office and diocesan youth ministries.