Category: Youth

By Pope Francis

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30)

Dear young people,

World Youth Day 2018 represents another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019. This new stage of our pilgrimage falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will meet on the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. This is a happy coincidence. The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to embrace the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world.

Continue reading “Message of the Holy Father to the Youth” →

By Nomphumelelo Mkhatshwa

The Cross – Our constant reminder as Christians that Jesus Christ is Lord and our Salvation

On Sunday (04 February 2018) Our Lady of Assumption Parish youth handed over the Symbols of the Pilgrimage of the Cross to St Joseph’s Parish youth. This was after a night vigil held at Salesian Community Chapel by OLOA young people to bid farewell to the Cross on Saturday (03 February 2018). During the night vigil young people from OLOA learnt the true meaning of the Cross within their Catholic Faith that, “it is the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and our Salvation” (Fr. Joseph Nguyen SDB) and what it means wearing the Cross which is commonly seen among our Priests. The revelation came after a video clip which young people watched about the Cruxification of Jesus Christ and His rise from the dead. Young people also had the opportunity to pray Taize prayer led by Fr. Joseph SDB, where they adored and venerated before the Cross and brought their prayer intentions for 2018 before Christ.

Continue reading “Pilgrimage of the Cross – St Joseph’s Parish” →

by Dabulamanzi Ntshangase

On our last Sunday (14th January 2018) of our pastoral exposure for the summer holiday, we had an opportunity to join the youth on the “chain movement of the cross.”

The cross is meant to go around the whole diocese and it is currently at the Cathedral (Manzini) where we have been for our summer holiday. The youth from St. Gabriel’s at Moneni were the ones taking the cross to Ss. Peter and Paul at Makholweni. St. Gabriel’s and Ss. Peter and Paul are “outstations” of the Manzini Cathedral. Continue reading “Share but do not lose…” →

Still today, the celebration of the “Mini World Youth Day” in Durban remains in our hearts. For those of us who only participated without being part of the organisation, it was a wonderful and very well prepared event. Those behind the scenes might be able to pick up weaknesses here and there.

The main challenge, though, is not to forget that these events are “tools” in our journey of faith and not the end of the journey!

That is why we asked our delegates to share with us what it all meant to them. Continue reading “The #MWYD 2017 in the words of our young people” →

by Allen Ottaro

More than 4,000 young Catholics from Southern Africa took part in the second Mini World Youth Day hosted by the Archdiocese of Durban, December 6-10. The gathering, organized by the Department of Laity and Youth Ministry of the Southern Africa Conference of Catholic Bishops (SACBC) and the Durban Youth Ministry Cluster, brought together young people from South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland. These countries constitute the SACBC region, but the event will also saw the participation of young people from as far as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, and Mozambique, making the event a contender for the largest-ever Catholic youth gathering on the African continent. Continue reading “Our diocese on ‘The Catholic World Report’” →

by Mpumie

*If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (LK9 :23)

The Cross and the Icon continues their pilgrimage through the parishes around the country. For the past 7 months, it has been to all the parishes in the Hhohho region and currently in the Manzini region. Yesterday they *”the Symbols”* have visited Elwandle Outstation, after visiting St. Louis & St. Stevens Outstations last week, where they stayed for the whole week at St. Stevens, being venerated by the young people. St. Stevens & Lwandle youth journeyed with the Symbols praying the Stations of the Cross. Continue reading “Diocesan Pilgrimage of the Cross and Icon” →