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LOURDES YOUTH TEAMS The Lourdes Youth Teams exist to lead young people in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton to an encounter with Jesus and to help them discover the joy of following him through building community, serving others, nurturing a relationship with Jesus in prayer and the Sacraments, exploring the journey of discipleship and connecting with the local Church in our Diocesan parishes. Build – We seek to lead young people to encounter the living God through creating a nurturing and loving community characterised by joy and friendship where each young person is welcomed and can come to know that they are loved and cherished by God. Serve – We seek to lead young people to encounter Jesus in our pilgrimage and parish families by providing opportunities to serve others, especially those in most need, through various activities of prayer and service experienced in Lourdes and the Diocese. As a group of young pilgrims, we also seek to build friendships through being attentive to one another and serving each other throughout the year, and especially during our week in Lourdes. Pray – Through the Lourdes experience we seek to lead young people to discover the joy of encountering Jesus by providing pathways into prayer and active participation in the Sacramental life of the Church in Lourdes, their parish and in the Diocese. Explore – We seek to provide an open space where young pilgrims can explore their faith freely. Through ministry sessions which both evangelise and catechise we want to feed the faith of our young people and introduce them to the beauty and joy of the journey of discipleship. Connect – We want to connect young people across the diocese and create a space where faith-based friendships can flourish. We desire to connect young people with the diocese and in particular their school and parish. We want the Lourdes youth experience to go beyond Lourdes and to overflow into a life of discipleship and greater involvement in the life of the Church. “When God touches the heart of a young man or woman they become capable of tremendous things”
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His Holiness Pope Francis Message for the 32nd World Youth Day, Vatican 27 February 2017
