Johannesburg’s Youth Gather for 2025 World Youth Day Mass

by Kati Dijane · November 25, 2025

Johannesburg’s youth gather for 2025 World Youth Day Mass

By Kati Dijane – More than 300 young people from across the Archdiocese of Johannesburg made their way to St Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in the Far East Rand Deanery on Saturday, 22 November, to celebrate the annual World Youth Day that was themed “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” (John 15:27).

From different parishes and deaneries across the archdiocese, young people came together to pray, worship and be reminded that they were not only the Church of tomorrow, but were the Church now.

Religious sisters from different orders, including the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, Sisters of Charity and Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, were also present.

A joyful celebration of faith

The atmosphere inside the church was unmistakably alive. Songs of praise filled the space as Cardinal Stephen Brislin made a procession to the altar as the main celebrant. He was joined by youth chaplains from across the archdiocese: Father Gabriel Martin SDB, the South Deanery chaplain; Father Odise SDB, the assistant youth chaplain for the South Deanery; Father Sefako Santawana, the Near East Rand chaplain; Father Chaka Motanyane OP, the Dean of the Far East Rand; Father Abel Maluleka, the Archdiocesan youth vicar; Father Bonginkosi Nhleko SDB, the Rector of Don Bosco Centre; Father Anselm Njoku CSSp; and the parish priest, Father Eugene Oguamanam CSSp.

“It’s good to be here,” Cardinal Brislin began warmly during Mass. “It’s good to celebrate together, to rejoice in God, because all goodness comes from God.”

We are the Church — together

In his homily, Cardinal Brislin challenged a phrase many young people have grown up hearing: “You are the Church of the future.”

“You are the Church now,” he said. “But you are not the Church by yourselves. You are the Church together. Because God unites.”

He spoke of how easy it was for human beings to divide themselves: young and old, rich and poor, foreign and local, “us” and “them”. But God, he reminded the youth, does the opposite. God builds unity. God builds family. God builds bridges.

“And those bridges must be built by us,” he continued. “God has chosen to work through us. We are meant to be His hands and His feet, His eyes and His ears.”

Living by God’s principles in a troubled world

The Cardinal did not shy away from speaking honestly about the state of the world. He spoke about how societies that once held strong Christian values were now drifting away from ethical principles and how the consequences were visible in growing conflict, injustice, greed and division.

“When we abandon principles of justice and equality, we return to dark times like colonialism and apartheid – a world where the rich matter more than the poor, where some lives are seen as more valuable than others,” he said.

He touched on the dignity of life, the importance of justice, the need for equality and the Christian belief that the earth’s resources are meant to be shared. In referencing situations like Gaza and the way international law is applied selectively, he invited young people to see how critical it was for them to stand for truth, even when the world chose silence or convenience.

“We believe in justice,” Cardinal Brislin reminded those present. “And without justice, without sharing, without equality, we can never be peaceful.”

Agents of change

The heart of his homily was a call to be joyful witnesses of the Gospel:

“You need to be agents of change,” he said. “To bring about change by promoting truth and justice, respect for life and the sanctity of life.”

He reminded the youth of the energy they bring into the Church, from the music, the laughter, the passion, to the creativity, and encouraged them to use those gifts not only inside the Church walls, but also in their schools, neighbourhoods, families and social spaces.

To be witnesses of Christ means to live differently. To speak kindness where there is hate. To stand for what is right. To support the vulnerable. And to carry God’s light into places that feel dark, he urged.

But he also made a vital point: young people cannot do this alone.

“It is only when we are close to God that His strength and His courage will work through us,” he said. “Deepen your relationship with prayer. By participating in the Church. By supporting one another.”

The dangers of substance abuse

Cardinal Brislin brought up one of the dangers facing young people today: alcohol abuse.

He compared it to a loaded revolver – something that may seem harmless at first, but has the power to destroy lives, families and futures.

“I’ve seen it so many times,” he said, “how people destroy their lives with alcohol, and not only their lives, but the lives of others.”

Honouring the past and celebrating the future

Towards the end of the Mass, a special moment took place as the new head of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg Youth Department, Tiiso Mosoeu, affectionately known as “Uncle Abundance”, was formally introduced to the young people.

Standing alongside Mr Teboho Mashoeng, the president of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, he presented Cardinal Brislin with a gift in honour of his 42nd anniversary as a priest, which he celebrated on 19 November.

Faith, fun and friendship

After the final blessing, the celebration moved beyond the altar. Outside, the youth gathered for music, laughter, dancing and shared meals.

Speaking about his first event as the new youth HOD, Tiiso said he was impressed with the turnout and felt happy that His Eminence, Cardinal Brislin, spent the day with young people. “Seeing the youth representing their deaneries was amazing. The day was filled with so much joy with praising, worshipping and of course the festivities. It is great to see young people being active in the church and getting along. It gave me hope that other upcoming events will be bigger and better, which I am looking forward to.”