In All Things Give Thanks
Read on for
Opening Greeting
New Team Members
Message from our new Youth Chaplain
New Saints for the Youth
NEW: Youth Group Spotlight
Dates for your Diary
Dear friends,
Welcome to the Autumn Edition of Westminster Youth Ministry Newsletter.
In this Jubilee Year, we are invited to be Pilgrims of Hope — and indeed, the year so far has been marked by many pilgrimages of all kinds. Figuratively speaking, we are all on a pilgrimage: a journey of faith with Christ at the centre, serving as our beacon of hope for eternal life.
Our natural disposition as Christians is to give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and especially for the many blessings we receive along our journey of faith. At Westminster Youth Ministry, we are deeply privileged to accompany you on this journey — whether as individuals, groups, or parish communities. It is our prayer that, together, we may truly become pilgrims of hope.
God Bless,
Andrzej
Director of Youth Ministry
Welcoming our new Team Members
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our community.
- Fr Francis, who joins us as our new Youth Chaplain.
- Grace and Ilianna, who joined the Outreach Team.
- Lidia, who has joined the Retreat Team.
Please pray for them as they settle into their new roles.
Our Mission
We work with parishes and schools within the Diocese of Westminster to create opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus Christ, and to accompany those young people on the path to vocational awareness, equipping them to live ever-more willingly for the mission entrusted to them by the Lord.
Message from our Youth Chaplain
Dear friends,
I am delighted to join the Youth Ministry Team. I join as a fairly new priest, ordained in 2023 and with lots still to learn. Looking back over the past months, it seems that we have had a packed summer of Jubilee youth events. It has been wonderful to listen to those encouraging words from our new Pope, Leo XIV. The ripples from the canonisations of Sts Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati are echoing out from Rome into our parishes, schools, and youth groups. I really wish for us to keep up this enthusiasm into the autumn as we close out the Jubilee Year. We have so much more to learn from our Jubilee theme: Pilgrims of Hope. Our world, our young people desperately need to be reminded of the hope that Christ brings.
May God bless you all,
Fr Francis Thomas
Summer of Pilgrimages
This summer was filled with moments of faith and journey. The Upper Room Chaplaincy team accompanied the Redcaps as they offered their service in Lourdes.
Meanwhile, 26 young people from across our diocese joined over one million participants at the Jubilee of Youth. Their pilgrimage traced the footsteps of young Italian saints: beginning in Turin with a climb in Oropa inspired by St Pier Giorgio, travelling to Sassello to honour Bl Chiara Badano, continuing to Assisi to walk with St Carlo Acutis, and concluding in Rome with the Holy Father at Tor Vergata.
Most recently, youth ministry joined the diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham, where around 1,800 people gathered with the Cardinal for Mass and the walk along the Holy Mile.
You can read more about the young pilgrims’ experiences below, as well as watch the video from Walsingham!
Youth Group Spotlight
We are introducing a new feature to our newsletter to showcase the various Youth Groups that we have in the Diocese. This month we introduce the Youth Group at Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury in Harrow on the Hill. More information can be found by clicking on Youth Group Spotlight below.
Harrow on the Hill
Pilar runs the youth group and says…
The youth group at Our Lady and Saint Thomas of Canterbury has been joyfully celebrating the Jubilee Year with a variety of activities. Last term, they collected clothes for Caritas and supported the opening of its new charity shop, helping to make a difference in the lives of those in need. They also came together for a homemade cake sale to raise funds for the parish community, and ended the summer term with a bubble tea social and some cheerful help with parish admin.
This term promises to be just as lively. Alongside continuing their Alpha Youth sessions, the group will host another cake sale in support of Bakita House, raising awareness about the reality of modern slavery and showing solidarity with those affected.
And of course, the young people are already looking forward to joining the parish in December for a festive Christmas carol concert — a joyful way to conclude the year together.
If you are in the parish and would like to know more about joining the youth group check out the link below.
Harrow on the Hill Youth Group
JUBILEE YEAR COMPETITIONS
Check out our exciting Jubilee Competition mini-series, Framing Hope, open to young people aged 11-35 (divided into age categories). Check out the pages linked below and get stuck in!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Young Adults Mass
Tuesday 4 November, 19:00 Tuesday 9 December, 19:00 Tuesday 13 January, 19:00
Join us for our diocesan Young Adults Mass in the beautiful Crypt of Westminster Cathedral.
Resonates
After Young Adult Mass
- 4th November: The Mass part 1
- 9th December: The Mass part 2
- 13th January: Catholics in Finance
Hertfordshire Summit
22nd November 2025 13:00-19:00
Calling all Hertfordshire parishes!
Join us for the Hertfordshire Summit at Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Welwyn Garden City — a celebration of our young people across the region!
Youth Ministry May Newsletter 2025
Stepping Forward in Hope
Read on for
Opening Greeting
Welcoming our new Holy Father
Emmaus Festival 2025
Upper Room 2025-6
Rome Pilgrimage
NEW: Youth Group Spotlight
Jubilee Competitions
Dates for your Diary
Dear Friends,
Welcome to this edition of Westminster Youth Ministry newsletter.
Easter is the most important event in the life of the Church. This year however, Eastertide has been different with the passing of Pope Francis and his funeral, the Jubilee of Teenagers and the election of Pope Leo XIV. Looking from the outside, it is almost too much to absorb. From the faith perspective there is no change, rather excitement about being a Catholic and getting noticed in an increasingly secular world. In a week or so, the media frenzy will come to an end, and life will take its usual course. For us Catholics it is an important opportunity to continue being noticed as proud and joyful disciples of Jesus Christ on our way to the heavenly home. The events of Easter showed us that we need to be open and ready to accept any changes that we may face on our journey of faith. Only then we can see God’s way rather than our own plans.
Participating in the funeral of Pope Francis and in the Jubilee of Teenagers in Rome made me proud and excited about being a Catholic. It also confirmed that faith and believing in God is very much relevant to the outside world and we should not be afraid to proclaim God’s Kingdom. Perhaps getting more involved in your parish youth ministry or joining the Emmaus Jubilee Festival could be a way of expressing the joy of being Catholics and the followers of Christ. You can count on Westminster Youth Ministry supporting you!
God Bless,
Andrzej
Director of Youth Ministry
Welcoming our new Holy Father
We are excited to welcome the new Pope!
Please pray for Pope Leo XIV. May the Holy Spirit grant him wisdom and courage as he leads the Church in this new chapter.
Our Mission
We work with parishes and schools within the Diocese of Westminster to create opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus Christ, and to accompany those young people on the path to vocational awareness, equipping them to live ever-more willingly for the mission entrusted to them by the Lord.
Jubilee of Youth: EMMAUS Festival
We are excited to announce that we have an amazing opportunity to get involved in this summer!
Join us at the SPEC Retreat Centre this summer for the unmissable Emmaus Festival, on 2-3 August 2025!
The festival will feature exciting speakers, workshops, Eucharistic Adoration, campfires, praise and worship (led by One Hope Project), and camping. Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
This is going to be a vibrant celebration of what it means to be young and invited to a life of HOPE!
Starting October 2025
The Upper Room Leadership Programme will take participants on a journey of profound discovery and formation, both practical and spiritual. Its aim is simple: to form young Catholic leaders and to give them the tools necessary to lead young people in their parishes.
Over the course of a year, the young leaders will be given the necessary training for building and leading youth groups in their parishes, as well as growing in their own spiritual life.
Rome Pilgrimage
Skye Swift, one of our young adult pilgrims who attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, reflects on her experience.
‘ ….as we went into our trip, now preparing for a very different moment in history, the burial of Papa Francesco, I wasn’t really sure how I’d feel. Would Rome, myself or my fellow pilgrims feel solemn and sad constantly? This would contrast the expectation of joy I’d initially imagined to feel on the pilgrimage before it all changed. However, the funeral was such a celebration of Pope Francis, and of all the young pilgrims, that the few days I had in Rome were wonderful! Breaking into song and smiles, and expressing great happiness… it was contagious. The atmosphere was that of hope, a real testament to that being our Jubilee Year’s theme.’
Read More of Skye’s Reflection
Youth Group Spotlight
We are introducing a new feature to our newsletter to showcase the various Youth Groups that we have in the Diocese. This month we introduce Sacred Heart Parish Youth Group in Ruislip. More information can be found by clicking on Youth Group Spotlight below.
RUISLIP
Siobhan Denny runs the youth group at Ruislip and says…
There has been a long tradition of youth ministry at Sacred Heart Parish encouraged by various priests over the years. However, 10 years ago, Fr Duncan created the first paid role for a youth worker at the parish, raising the profile of youth ministry. At that time the aim was to engage the youth at times in their life when they seem to disappear from the pews. Mainly bridging the gaps between First Communion and Confirmation and Confirmation and Marriage or adult life. Over the last 10 years the youth ministry has grown and adapted to offer faith development, pilgrimage experiences, leadership development, volunteering opportunities and awareness on social justice issues.
We have a new exciting project this term where the young people will be interviewing senior parishioners about their faith life. You’ll be able to keep up to date on our parish YouTube channel!
Last month a few members of the youth group travelled to Rome and took part in Pope Francis’ funeral and the Jubilee of Teenagers celebrations. You can see what they got up to below on the YouTube link, or read some testimonies on the Website.
JUBILEE YEAR COMPETITIONS
Check out our exciting Jubilee Competition mini-series, Framing Hope, open to young people aged 11-35 (divided into age categories). Check out the pages linked below and get stuck in!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Young Adults Mass
Tuesday, 3 June, 19:00
Tuesday 1 July, 19:00
Join us for our diocesan Young Adults Mass in the beautiful Crypt of Westminster Cathedral!
Resonate
Tuesday, 3 June, 19:00
Join us after our Young Adults Mass for our final (postponed) talk on the Our Father. Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz will speak on Biblical Worship and how that can be reflected in our everyday life….
JP2 Cup
Saturday 14 June 2025, 09:30-16:00
We’re excited to be launching the JP2 Cup, a football competition for Catholic young men! Check out our website for more information, and sign up with your team by contacting us on youth@rcdow.org.uk
Jubilee of Youth: Emmaus Festival
Saturday 2 August – Sunday 3 August
While thousands of young Catholics from across the globe gather for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome, we invite you to join us in London as we celebrate alongside them. Join us for a weekend of great celebration as we lift of the Youth of the Church.