First Young Adults’ Mass Draws 200 Faithful
By Kati Dijane – Responding to a call to cater to the spiritual and social needs of young adults in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, the youth office, headed by the vicar for the youth, Father Abel Maluleka, and youth coordinator Dillon Naicker, initiated a first for the archdiocese: a young adults’ Mass, which aims to take place annually, and as an opening to other events that unite young adults.
To add a special touch to the occasion, which took place on Saturday, February 8, at St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Coronationville, Cardinal Stephen Brislin, the newly installed Archbishop, celebrated Mass, along with Father Manuel Fernandes from the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town, Father Abel Maluleka, parish priest Father Vusi Nhlapho, Father Zipho Ngwenya, Deacon Bakang Khunou and Deacon Alpheus John.
The choir from St Hubert’s in Alexandra led the liturgy with great music that brought vibrancy to the Mass. Cardinal Brislin, who expressed his joy of being with the young adults, had a few words of encouragement to the young adults in his homily. He referred to the readings of the day, Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 and the Gospel of Mark 6:30-34, highlighting that they aimed to teach the faithful about community and being in a good relationship with others. He also said that young adulthood, as with any stage of life, had its problems, anxieties and disappointments. Although the reality may not be the same for everyone, stated Cardinal Brislin, many young adults, during their childhood or teenage eras, had the security of family and the protection of parents and groups of peers. “The big worries of money, work and food on our tables were dealt with by our parents. Now, you are responsible for all of these things, and that can weigh heavily on our shoulders,” he said, adding, “So while it is an exhilarating time of life in its creativity and possibility, it also comes with all the imperfections of our humanity and finiteness.”
He also warned that although the world may define a person’s identity according to their career, wealth, educational qualifications or status, none of these things define who a person is. “Our true identity is to be found in Jesus Christ, as his beloved children, created in the image and likeness of God.”
“Our identity is found in discovering God’s purpose for our lives, his plans for us, the utilisation of the gifts he has given us for the growth of justice, unity and peace among people—in short, in making a contribution for a better world,” he said.
He also mentioned that identity is enhanced when one fulfils the recommendation heard in the first reading of Hebrews: to do good works and to share our resources. “Sharing resources is not limited to the materialistic resources we have, but sharing of ourselves. It is when we are able to reach out to those in need—whatever kind of need—that we truly become the face of Christ.”
In closing the homily, Cardinal Brislin encouraged young adults to make use of unique opportunities offered to them by the church, including mentoring younger people, being good role models and partaking in several outreach programmes and projects.
The cardinal then blessed students, graduates, those seeking employment, as well as married couples. After Mass, several guest speakers, including Lesego Zikhali, president of the SACBC Youth & Young Adults Ministry, and Sister Annet Besa Kaluka, a Salesian sister of Don Bosco, gave talks to the young adults. Zikhali echoed the cardinal’s message of the importance of mentorship to young people. He also added that the conference, comprising South Africa, Eswatini and Botswana, which has 29 dioceses, has been facing issues of not accommodating young adults from the ages of 26 to 35. “Since we fall under the laity department, one of the key things we had to look at was the formation of young adults. We are now coming up with a constitution that will guide the young adults’ ministry at an interdiocesan level,” said Zikhali, commending the Archdiocese of Johannesburg for joining eight other dioceses, including Witbank and Manzini, in forming a young adults structure. He also called upon young adults in various deaneries and parishes to form structures and be lay missionaries in the church. He closed off his talk by inviting the young adults to the third annual Daswa Youth Pilgrimage on 29-30 March 2025 at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre in Limpopo, as well as the young adults’ conference scheduled to take place on 25-28 September in the Diocese Of Gaborone in Botswana.
Sister Kaluka appealed to the young adults not to hide from God and the needs of the church and to use their resources and talents to be of service to others. She also emphasised the importance of having a personal relationship with God, even on a quest for a better career and life. Those who were in attendance know the special song Sister Kaluka taught: “To whom does it belong?”. She closed her talk by saying the church belongs to all of us.
The delighted Father Maluleka, who was happy at the number of young adults who came to the historic event, said this group who showed an interest in attending the Mass gave the Archdiocese hope that the ministry will grow and that young adults are capable of giving themselves to God and to the church.
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