New youth missionaries commissioned to evangelise in Southwark
Archbishop John commissions youth missionaries for evangelisation and mission
At a ceremony in St George’s Cathedral on Saturday 24 January, centred around prayer and scripture, 14 new youth missionaries were commissioned and 6 recommissioned by Archbishop John Wilson.
The youth missionaries join the Archdiocese of Southwark’s Mission Team, which are students and professionals aged 18-30 who give one Saturday every two months to lead retreats and serve young people in parishes and schools across the Archdiocese.
The commissioning took place after they completed their comprehensive initial and ongoing formation to prepare them for the role.
At the service, Archbishop John said it was a “great joy to welcome” the new members of the youth mission team and thanked them for their dedication in leading people to Christ.
Archbishop John said it is the Lord Jesus which brought everyone there, as “he is the centre of everything. He brings us to this point in our lives” adding that we need to “entrust ourselves to him”.
The Archbishop said he is “so proud” of those involved in youth ministry for “being willing to take this step in faith to stand up for Christ and to be agents, ministers and missionaries of His Gospel in His Church”.
Archbishop John joined the Mission Team in praying a rosary for the intention of all in the Mission Team and every young person “we’re going to encounter over the next year” so that “they may experience in a new way, how loved and how precious they are and that they see the Lord in us and through us”.
The team have received a varied formation in peer-based ministry, with a range of ongoing formation offered as they continue to serve. The day ended with a beautiful celebratory meal together.
The Archdiocese is incredibly grateful to Lucy Treloar, our Mission Team and Retreat Coordinator, for all her wonderful work in forming the team and delivering the programme.
If you are aged 18–30 then you can join the mission or book the team for your parish: www.tinyurl.com/scysmission
Please keep our missionaries in your prayers.
