Rt Rev Stephen Wright
Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle
Bishop’s House, 26 West Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 4ES
0191 228 0003 | bishop@diocesehn.org.uk
The Solemnity of Christ the King. World Day of Prayer for the Youth 2023
“Come and See”
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, our hearts are in reverent adoration of Jesus, our
loving Lord and King. Today is the final Sunday in the Church’s Liturgical Year. The Solemnity of
Christ the King is intentionally placed here to show that all creation and all authority find their
fulfilment in Christ Jesus who is King of all that exists. Jesus reigns by the authority of love and
service. If we wish to have true authority, we too must love and serve.
Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Youth. We acknowledge and seek to nurture the vibrant
spirit of our young people. In every age the Church is called to pass on all that She is to the next
generation. Our young parishioners must always be a priority in our prayer and in the life and
mission of our diocesan family. We pray for our young sisters and brothers. We pray they will open
their hearts to the love of the Lord and that they will discern their calling in life.
We are inspired by the words of Pope Francis to young people at the World Youth Day celebrations
in Lisbon this year, “in the Church, there is room for everyone. Everyone. In the Church, no one
is left out or left over. There is room for everyone. Just the way we are…” “Jesus never closes the
door, never, but invites you to enter, come and see.”
“Come and see” is a gentle and loving invitation, echoing Jesus in the Gospel of John (1:39) as he
called His first disciples. “Come and see” flows through our celebration today and provides us all
with a principle of ministry with the young: “Come and see” the Lord present in our parish
communities.
In our First Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, we see the image of the Lord as a good shepherd,
seeking the lost, bringing back the strayed, and bandaging the injured. Ezekiel ministered to the
People of God when they were in exile in Babylon. The people were far from home, lost and
despairing of their future. They felt abandoned by God. Through his ministry Ezekiel consoled the
people with the truth, that God never abandons us. God is always with His people; God will bring
His People home.
This theme continues in today’s Gospel according to Matthew, but Jesus provides a change in
emphasis. Jesus identifies Himself with those who hunger, who thirst, those who are the strangers
in society, those who go without the necessities of life, the sick, those who are in prison. Jesus
identifies Himself with those who society sadly forgets and often rejects. Whatever we do to the
least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus. The consolation of the Lord’s presence is also a
stark call to minister to those in need.
This call to see and serve Christ in one another, especially in those who are in need, resonates
deeply, especially as we recognise the needs of our young people today. Our young people, growing
up witnessing and experiencing the challenges of today’s world, will often grapple with mental
health issues, anxiety, feelings of isolation, and loss. Their hearts, although young, bear heavy and
profound burdens. They seek solace, understanding, and a welcoming refuge. Despite a deep
Rt Rev Stephen Wright
Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle
Bishop’s House, 26 West Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 4ES
0191 228 0003 | bishop@diocesehn.org.uk
spiritual hunger, many young people feel far from the love of the Lord, they feel far from the care
of the Lord’s Church. Jesus identifies Himself with our young people and Jesus calls us to serve
Him in those who struggle.
In addition to the excellent ministry of our family of Catholic schools who minister with our young
people day in and day out, and all the volunteer ministry with young people in our parishes,
including the SVP summer camps on Holy Island, our diocesan family is blessed to have the
presence and ministry of its Youth Service, the Youth Ministry Team (YMT). Its mission is to help
create environments and experiences where our youth may “come and see” the Lord. To find peace,
understanding, and prayerful experiences of God’s love for them. The YMT seeks to be a beacon
of God’s love and mercy. This ministry can only happen with young people offering their talents
as Interns to serve their sisters and brothers.
Our YMT interns come from our local parishes and schools, from across the country and indeed
from across the world. Our vibrant young adults aged 18-30, embark upon a journey where they
explore, engage with, and immerse themselves in their faith, nurturing their professional skills and
pastoral ministry. They become more confident heralds of the Gospel, helping others to “come
and see” Jesus, who calls them by name. We pray that young people will continue to be generous
in seeking to minister as YMT interns. Anyone who is interested in working with YMT are invited
to contact them directly to find out more about this inspiring ministry.
Through its numerous programs, activities, and especially through their Internship Program, YMT
works to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to the youth who seek to be listened to, valued
and loved, so reflecting the compassionate Shepherd we find in Ezekiel and being faithful to the
Lord’s call to serve, found in today’s Gospel.
Your generous support, both through your prayers and your financial assistance, is not merely a
charitable act but an active participation in the pastoral care of our youth. Today’s Youth Sunday
collection is indispensable for ensuring that the valued work of the YMT, especially the Internship
Program, continues to flourish, inspiring and transforming lives. Thank you for whatever you can
offer.
The Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage in the summer is another ministry where the YMT, energised by
a spirit of service, is keen to extend their support, caring for and supervising the youth pilgrims.
Lourdes is a blessed place where Mary invites us all including the youth to “come and see” the love
of the Lord made present in worship and service. Gradually and appropriately, with the welfare of
the vulnerable as the paramount concern, we seek to re-introduce the youth pilgrimage to Lourdes.
May the Lord inspire us all to be ministers who care for the needy. Let our support of the YMT,
through prayer and if we can, by financial contribution, be our way of enabling our youth to “come
and see” the Lord who loves them deeply. May our generosity pave the pathways for them to not
only encounter Christ but to become vibrant witnesses of His love to others.
May the Lord bless the ministry of the YMT, bless the ministry of our schools and bless all who
work with our young people in our parishes.
With assurances of prayers
Rt Rev Stephen Wright
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle