‍

Young adults from across the Diocese gathered at St Richard’s Church in Chichester for a retreat day on 7 November, exploring the theme “Bearing Witness to Christ”. The event was the second in a series of retreats organised by the Diocesan Youth Council, providing opportunities for young adults to deepen their faith, reflect on their relationship with Christ and build friendships across the diocese.

The retreat series takes its inspiration from Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 40th World Youth Day, which focuses on the theme: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” (John 15:27).

The day included two talks from Sister Lucy Cahill O.P., from the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, and Bethan Townsend, a virgo consecrata in our Diocese who works for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Through talks, discussions and prayer, they encouraged participants to consider what it means to be a witness to Christ in their everyday lives.

Drawing inspiration from William Holman Hunt’s painting The Light of the World and the writings of St John Henry Newman, participants reflected on Jesus as the Light of the World and the image of Christ knocking at the door of our hearts. They explored how, even when we struggle to welcome Him, Christ continues to reach out to us with unwavering love and patience.

The young adults were also invited to reflect on their own faith journeys, considering where they had encountered God in their lives and the ways in which they had witnessed to his presence. The reflections continued through a series of workshops, including guided meditation, Lectio Divina and an opportunity to create artwork inspired by Hunt’s famous painting.

Fellowship was an important part of the day, with participants enjoying a shared lunch, accompanied by plenty of tea, coffee and cake, alongside parishioners from St Richard’s. The informal atmosphere provided an opportunity to share experiences of faith, ask questions, exchange ideas and find out more about other events and retreats taking place across the Diocese.

The day also included an opportunity to pray the Rosary and join the parish community for the Sunday Vigil Mass, celebrated by Fr Con Foley. Following Mass, several young adults continued their conversations at a local pub, enjoying time together and strengthening the friendships formed throughout the day.

The retreat was a valuable reminder of the importance of creating welcoming spaces where young adults can grow in faith, support one another and discover how to live out the Gospel in their everyday lives. As the retreat series continues, future sessions will invite participants to explore their friendship with Christ, consider how faith can offer hope in times of adversity and reflect on the impact of artificial intelligence on Christianity.

The next Young Adult retreat day will take place on Saturday 23 January at Arundel Cathedral. Participants will be joined by Lizzie Wakeling, Youth Adviser for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, and Georgia Clarke, who works in Catholic Formation for Alpha. Together, they will explore the theme of finding hope in times of adversity.

For information on the next retreat and how to book, visit our Events page.