The Jubilee of Teenagers celebrates those aged 13-19, recognising those years as vital in the formation of the person, and highlighting the joy and enthusiasm of teenagers.
PRAYER
Jesus Christ, King of the Universe,
to you we turn in humble prayer.
Look with favour upon all young people,
bearers of hope for the Church and the world.
Jesus Christ, companion
of youth and young adults,
bless the paths of discovery and discernment,
through times of joy and experiences of hardship,
with the constant love and support of your Church.
Jesus Christ, alive in the hearts
of all your people,
grant that we may
“journey together, young and old…
to nourish our enthusiasm, cause dreams to emerge,
awaken prophesies and enable hope to blossom.” *
Jesus Christ, Redeemer of all humankind,
open our hearts to encounter all young people,
to accompany and be in community together,
and as one Church, embark upon our holy mission.
Jesus Christ, in the company
of the Father and the Holy Spirit,
graciously hear our prayer
and be with us forevermore.
Amen.
* Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 199
(From the USCCB’s Guidebook for the Global Celebration of Young People)
TEACHING
From Pope Francis’ Message for the Jubilee of Mercy for Young Boys and Girls (6 January, 2016):
“Yours is a time of life which is full of amazing changes. Everything seems possible and impossible all at once. I repeat what I said to some of your friends: “Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide. Jesus gives us this courage! … With him we can do great things; he will give us the joy of being his disciples, his witnesses. Commit yourselves to great ideals, to the most important things. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals” (Homily at the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation, 2013).
“Don’t ever lose hope! The Lord has a great dream which, with your help, he wants to come true! Your friends, young people your age living in less trying conditions than your own, have not forgotten you; they are working for peace and justice for everyone everywhere. Don’t be taken in by the messages of hatred or terror all around us. Instead, make new friends. Give of your time and always show concern for those who ask your help. Be brave and go against the tide; be friends of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace (cf. Is 9:6). “Everything in him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassion” (Misericordiae Vultus, 8).”
TESTIMONY
“For a few years prior to ACYF, I began to develop a strong belief in God, but it wasn’t until ACYF when I realised more of what being Catholic means, and how these Christian values are exhibited in our society.
“Now that I have experienced the three days of ACYF, I know that being Catholic isn’t hard, all you have to do is let your heart and soul open, and the rest is trust. In this world of mayhem, and heightened by the past events just experienced, I now believe there is a chance to change the world when you have faith.
“I believe my faith will guide me to aid change in the world. I want to offer hope and peace to those who are hopeless. I intend to visit the sick and elderly and to demonstrate through my actions what young people can do for others. It is our belief, from the teachings of Jesus, that every single person has equal value and that every life matters.
“I want to show and teach people about my faith through my actions, not coercion. I want to show young people what having faith in God is, and cooperating with the Spirit is one sure way to have hope, peace and joy.”
– Former Santa Maria College (Perth) student Eloise Davis on the experience of attending the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in 2019 (From Santa Maria College).
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
For teenagers, that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit as they navigate their way into adulthood.
We pray to the Lord.
For the Church, that it may always value and appreciate the unique gifts of young people and help them to develop their gifts and talents.
We pray to the Lord.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Jubilee for Boys and Girls – Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis (24 April, 2016) Message for the Jubilee of Mercy for Young Boys and Girls (6 January, 2016)
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