Bishop Selemela’s Special Blessing for World Youth Day Pilgrims

by Admin · August 1, 2023

By Francesco Giliberti – A few days before World Youth Day, Bishop Masilo John Selemela, auxiliary in Pretoria, imparted a special sending blessing to the young people of the Neocatechumenal Way as they prepared to leave for Lisbon in Portugal.

They were joined by Fr Robert Ndungu MCCJ, chaplain of CBC Mount Edmund and parish priest of St Augustine in Silverton, and the brothers and sisters of the communities in Pretoria.

The Neocatechumenal Way, being by its nature a missionary charism for living and deepening one’s faith in small communities, has always had a particular care for young people. Many young people discover their vocation within their own Neocatechumenal community, within their parish, which helps them to cultivate and nurture the call that God has for each one of them. This is why World Youth Days have always had a profound sense for the young people of the Way especially.

In Pretoria, the Neocatechumenal Way is present in six different parishes.

The young people were leaving for Lisbon confident that God will speak to their lives, and especially that he will shed light on their vocation.

They received a special blessing from Bishop Selemela in the chapel of CBC Mount Edmund during a penitential celebration, as a sign that Jesus Christ himself sends them to carry the good news through the streets of Portugal.

Within their Neocatechumenal community, these young people have experienced the power of Jesus Christ concretely in their lives, a love capable of defeating the fear of death and sin.

The response to this Good News is always a blessing, a great joy, so great that it goes beyond any obstacle. Many of the WYD pilgrims have asked for holidays, postponed important exams and made enormous sacrifices to be able to go to Lisbon, knowing that the Holy Spirit will pass during the pilgrimage, and that, as Psalm 126:6 says, “For those who are sowing, in tears are going, carrying the seed. But coming back, they come back singing, carrying the sheaves.”

“You might have the intention to go on pilgrimage to pray, as a tourist, out of curiosity, or just to experience something new — but … people who go to a World Youth Day hardly come back the same as they went. A pilgrimage is a beautiful place of encounter.”

Many youths have changed their lives thanks to the World Youth Day. They have decided to start a Christian marriage, enter the seminary, enter a monastery, leave an addiction, reject evil or give their lives freely to go anywhere in the world for the mission.

These youths of Pretoria are waiting for this encounter with Jesus Christ, which changes their lives radically.

“Enjoy your mission, as you go out to seek what God wants for your life,” Bishop Selemela said.

At the first World Youth Day in 1983, Pope John Paul II said to all the youth: “Do not be afraid!” Bishop Selemela echoed these words: “This is what I say to you: Do not be afraid. Even if you are young, welcome the Gospel, and be courageous announcers of it! We continue to pray for each one of them and for the hundreds of thousands of youths from all over the world who will be going to Portugal.”

On Sunday, August 6, Pope Francis will celebrate the Eucharist with these young people. The Mass will be broadcast live all over the world on all media platforms.