My experience of the Jubilee of Hope was one of inspiration, reflection, and exploration of Carmel. We began our pilgrimage in Sassone, where we met Carmelite young people from around the world and learnt more about Carmel and their saints. The group discussions we had over these days gave me hope for the future of the Church, as I was enriched by hearing many different experiences from young people particularly about their faith.
One of the main themes that emerged from our discussions was the challenge many young Catholics face when navigating the modern world. We realised that if we remain hopeful in God, all will be well. A personal reflection I made while learning about the Carmelite saints was inspired by St Thérèse of Lisieux, who encourages us to embrace our imperfections. This gave me great hope for my relationship with God, as it is through Him that we can be truly great.
In one of our sessions, we reflected on our anticipated visit through the Holy Door during the Jubilee Year, and we were asked: “What doors can the Church open for us as young people?” We agreed that bringing young people together should be a more frequent opportunity for Carmel and the church.
When we attended Mass in Rome, Fr Simon, an Irish Carmelite, reminded us in his homily that the Church already has enough spectators — as young adults, we must be the driving force for change, the hope for the future. This strongly reflected a key theme for the week, one that Pope Leo echoed during his message at the final mass.
Overall, the week inspired me to remain hopeful despite everything happening in the world, and to keep my trust in God. One of my main takeaways was our commitment, as young adults, to keep in touch and build a network of Carmelite young people around the world, so we can meet more often in the future.
Finally, I want to thank our parish for its generosity in making this wonderful experience possible — we are truly grateful.
Reflection by Joseph Toryusen Jones (originally published in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Faversham newsletter)
