Last Saturday, young adults from around the diocese joined Bishop Alan Hopes for the annual Young Adults in the West summer retreat Day. This year we were hosted by the Carmelite Friars at St Jude’s Shrine, Faversham.
World Youth Day. takes place from 11-22 August 2011 - Why not come and join us?. 
Chaplains Blog
Posted on: 7th July, 2010 by DavidChaplains Blog By Patrick Daly
The buzzing din of the Word Cup vuvuzelas will mark, for many young people, the beginning of a transition period. While the countless string of international football matches, one after the other, may be the perfect reason for some to do nothing all summer, others will have thoughts of the future constantly playing on their mind.
Whether it is the end of school, the completion of university or the realisation that this summer calls for a new direction, many of us young Catholics will be looking ahead with uncertainty.
Grades are pending, CV’s will need brushing up and some young people face the prospect of leaving their home and friends for a very different life at university. The burning question for us is not, who will be the world champions come 11 July but rather, where is my life heading?
This is a huge question and one that every adult, young and old, will ask themselves at some point in their lives. The interesting thing to note, however, is that throughout the events and the turmoil of the Gospel, the disciples do not ask Jesus where their own lives are heading. Yes, they disagree with Christ, they become frustrated with him (Luke 8: 22-25) and they misunderstand him (Mark 10: 35-45) but they do not ask where his mission is leading them. In simple terms, they place their faith in Jesus.
In calling to mind the faith of the disciples, we can take heart from their own resilience of faith. We do not have the luxury of knowing Jesus in the flesh but that does not mean that God has not personally touched our lives.
In the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) Jesus reminds us that our talents are important and God given. With these talents, God has provided us with the tools for life and also the tools for happiness.
When we are taking our next steps, we should ask ourselves: does this life-decision allow me to multiply my talents? Does it allow me to enjoy what I am good at doing? No doubt, all those international footballers playing their football on the world stage, under the constant purr of the vuvuzelas, have all asked themselves those very questions and have found the answer to be a resounding ‘Yes’ – and look where that has got them!
