Cardinal Cormac gives closing You Believe lecture for Year of Faith

Cardinal Cormac at Somers Town centre

On Tuesday 22 October Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor gave the final ‘You Believe’ lecture for young people in the Diocese of Westminster at the Centre for Youth Ministry, Somers Town. In his talk, entitled ‘A Journey of Renewal’, Cardinal Cormac reflected on what we have learnt during the Year of Faith and how Pope Francis has given us guidance to put this into practice in our daily lives:

“One of the things we should take away from this Year of Faith is that the small things are important. You may think I’m not going to make much different with what I do; but you do. It isn’t through great things, but the small things you do for other people, when you forget yourself.”

“Pope Francis showed us this in July, following the death of migrants crossing from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean he travelled to Lampedusa to honour their lives and speak to other young migrants who had made the journey. Here he shows us that we can’t do everything but we can do something.”

Cardinal Cormac’s talk was preceded by ‘prayer and worship’ organised by Mission Volunteers from SPEC, the Diocese of Westminster’s residential retreat centre for children and young people. Afterwards the young people had the opportunity to question Cardinal Cormac and socialise with each other.

The You Believe series has taken place monthly throughout the Year of Faith with the aim of giving young people the opportunity to celebrate their Catholic Faith and take part in catechesis with others from around the Diocese.

Reflecting on the series Fr David Reilly, the Diocese of Westminster Youth Chaplain, said: “You Believe has been an ambitious project for Westminster Youth Ministry and has borne much fruit in the Diocese. I have been really impressed by the many young people who have participated so enthusiastically in this year-long celebration. We are also very grateful to the bishops who have given their time and energy in coming to be with us, opening up the treasures of our faith and helping us to be renewed in our knowledge and love of Christ.”