Prayer for the 2019 Year of the Youth

God our Father, we come together as Church, the Body of Christ, and through your Holy Spirit, we pray for our young people in this Year of the Youth.

In your great mercy, you sent Jesus your Son, who grew up as a young man among the youth, became an example for the youth, and consecrated the youth to You.

Hear our young people every time they proclaim:

Youth: We are BELOVED.

All: We praise you for your love for us, which saves us and gives meaning to our lives.

Youth: We are GIFTED.

All: We rejoice over the many gifts you give us, enriching us and our communities.

Youth: We are EMPOWERED.

All: We accept your spirit which enables us to share your love and grace especially to other youth.

During this Year of the Youth, help the youth of our nation encounter Christ who always looks at us with love as He did with the rich young man, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and those who seek your kingdom.

Form us by your Holy Spirit into credible guides for our young people, like Mary Magdalene, witness and missionary of the Resurrection, to be IN MISSION: joyfully proclaiming Christ who died and rose again.

Nourish us and your young people through your Word and the Eucharist, so we may always choose to be life-giving, especially to the least, lost and last.

Together with our young people, may we follow the example of our Mother Mary, whose Yes to you, O God, gave way to the fulfillment of your Divine Will.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St Pedro Calungsod, patron of Filipino youth, pray for us.