Young people gather for the Archdiocese of Johannesburg’s WYD Mass

World Youth Day Mass, Archdiocese of Johannesburg

By Kati Dijane – Almost 200 young people gathered at St Martin De Porres parish in Craighall Park in Johannesburg for the World Youth Day Mass on November 23.

The youth department of the archdiocese, ensured that the day was as fun as it was spiritual, as it delegated each deanery with certain activities for the day, including the liturgy of music, games and selling of merchandise.

Two youth chaplains Fr Joseph Nguyen SDB and Fr Mark Muhuro were joined by the youth vicar, Fr Abel Maluleka and the vicar of evangelisation, Fr Bruce Botha SJ, to celebrate Mass and spend the day with the youth.

In his homily, Fr Botha, also the parish priest of St Martin De Porres, talked about the synod on synodality, which concluded in October 2024, as a gift to the church. He explained that the meaning of synodality is about walking together, as well as listening to one another, and above all, to the Holy Spirit.

He added that we can’t be a Church unless we listen to one another, an important outcome of this global gathering that took place in Rome. “If we make decisions without consulting, they are often bad decisions because they are not the result of a broader process of listening. So synodality – journeying together and listening to each other – is part of who we are as a Church,” he said, adding that our hearts can only be converted if we truly listen to God and to one another.

Mass, which was led by the Far East Rand Deanery with the liturgy of music, concluded with special blessings of students, graduates and youth mission leaders. After Mass, winners, who took part in a raffle draw, with prizes ranging from an all-expenses paid trip to the Daswa Youth Pilgrimage in March next year, a ticket for two to the West Rand’s gala dinner and a snack hamper, were then selected.

Dillon Naicker, the youth coordinator of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, unveiled the diocesan year plan for 2025, along with its theme: Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary.”