WYD@Home was celebrated at Alton Castle from 7th June and closed on 9th June – Pentecost Sunday. We were many young people, priests, bishops and religious who came together in fraternity to be renewed in the Holy Spirit, and reflect on themes taken up at World Youth Day in Panama 2019. It was an excellent opportunity to share and witness to our faith and joy in the Lord.

The European Vocations Service, (EVS), part of the Conference of Bishops of Europe, met in Rome from the 4^th – 7^th June. We discussed how best to implement the outcomes of the recent synod on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment, and were privileged to meet Pope Francis on the penultimate day.

Pope Francis welcomed us all warmly and gave us his prepared speech… and proceeded to address us with an impromptu message. Pope Francis believes that the Holy Spirit still calls people to lives of special consecration, and we should courageously cast out the nets, but always in the context of the wider Christian calling.  You can read the full message (both impromptu and prepared) here.

At a gathering of people doing vocations work in Europe, the pope said that too often when Catholics try to talk to young people about vocational discernment, “it’s as if we were speaking Esperanto to them, because they don’t understand a thing.”

Pope Francis said the church must help young people learn how “to dialogue with the Lord” and how to ask him, ‘What do you want from me?'”

To read the full article from The Tablet, please click here.

Sister Elaine Penrice has been appointed as Director of the National Office of Vocation. Bishop Terence Drainey, Chair of the Management Board of the National Office for Vocation, said he was delighted to be able to announce the appointment.

Monday 22nd – Friday 26th July 2019

A Catholic Summer School for discerning Young Adults searching for…

~ a way to live faith fully
~ a way to live life courageously
~ their true path among the many
~ a way to live joyfully
~ God in their lives