The Youth: The Church of the Present - The Church of the Future
by Bishop Myron J. Cotta, D.D | 09/21/2025 | From the ClergyA million young people, from 150 countries from all over the world, recently gathered in Rome to be acknowledged as the Catholic youth of our present age and to celebrate that they are the Church - present and future. This was just one of the many celebrations that have taken place in Rome during this Jubilee Year of Hope.
With this special Jubilee celebration, and the beginning of a new academic year, Pope Leo encourages the youth of our parish communities to stand strong as disciples of Jesus and disciples of hope. He reminded them that they need to “listen to the Gospel with attentiveness, to reflect honestly on how they are living, to serve the poor with compassion, to spend time in adoration before the Eucharist, and to approach their studies, work, and relationships in the spirit of Christ.” Pope Leo assured them that this “opens the heart to the presence of Jesus, who is already close and ready to meet us.“ This presence is encountered and realized through His passion, Death, and Resurrection from the dead - the Paschal Mystery, our salvation!
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, it is the Cross of Our Lord Jesus that serves as a sign of hope. It anchors us to the truth found in the Church. We pray that the youth of our parish communities will embrace the Cross, and accept, in faith, the teachings found in the Gospel of Jesus. The Cross and Gospel will anchor them so as not to be caught up and dragged along by the turbulent and chaotic waters of this fallen world. As the youth of our parishes stand at the foot of the sign of hope, the Cross, and are moved to action by living the joy of the Gospel, they will truly become, steadfast in faith!
The youth will discover, as they personally encounter the Risen Christ in their daily lives, that the Holy Spirit will gift them with the capacity to intentionally follow Jesus as their Lord. While on their journey of ongoing conversion, they will come to the realization of what it means to be missionary disciples and pilgrims of hope.
On our pilgrimage through this Jubilee Year, let us, especially, during this month of September, be mindful of the 14th of this month, and joyfully fix our attention upon the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Let us “lift high the Cross!” May it encourage all of us to grow in faith, hope, and charity as we pray for our youth who are called and sent to be the Church of today and the Church for tomorrow!
St. Carlo Acutis, pray for us. Amen!
In the Peace of Christ,
Bishop Cotta