Young people called to share their faith

Some 300 young people attending a conference on evangelisation at the weekend have been challenged by the Irish primate to share their gift of faith.

Archbishop Eamon Martin said he longed for a New Pentecost in Ireland, “to transform and renew the Faith in this country” and asked the young people to “be open to finding yourself called and gifted for mission, impelled to get out there with your faith and your gifts and engage the world”.

The conference in Croke Park was a lay-led initiative aiming to put a structure for evangelisation in place in Ireland. Speakers included FOCUS founder Curtis Martin; Vice President of the Augustine Institute, Dr Edward Sri; and Director for Evangelisation for the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Fr Michael Gaitely.

Renewal

Curtis Martin told The Irish Catholic that although the Church has been “wounded deeply by the sins of people” it is now going through a renewal process.

He said his message to parishes is “don’t be discouraged” because the Church is “becoming healthy again”. “Many, many people have left and now is the time for those who have stayed to be alive in Christ and have the love and patience to go out to their loved ones and invite them to come back.”