Upcoming Youth Advent Mission to Speak of Hope and Revival

As 2020 draws to a close — a year fraught with many challenges — and as the season of Advent approaches, our Youth Advent Mission stands as a place of hope in the glory of God offering the theme “He Revives His People.”

The mission is set for the evening of Dec. 4 in the cathedral. Registration is not required, per se, but those wanting to attend will be asked to register online for a seat, as we have been doing with Mass. In turn, the mission will also be streamed live for those wishing to take part, but remain at home.

“In this very troubling year, we are trying to bring hope back with the assurance that the Lord hasn’t abandoned us,” says Rebecca Whitney, Christ the King Cathedral Youth Director. “He wants to revive His people.”

Although the Youth Advent Mission originally was targeted to youth and young adults of the parish, it is now a family event. The material will be relevant to all the youth and young adults, but whole families are encouraged to attend. The mission now also is to be held just one day — previously, it ran for three days.

There will be several speakers who will enlarge on the theme, as well as a nationally known musician. During the evening there will be praise and worship, as well as adoration. Confessions are tentatively planned.

“There will be opportunities to have prayer with prayer teams for specific intentions,” Rebecca says. “They will offer individual prayers for things significant to thoserequesting them.”

The mission is set to enable us to enter joyfully into Advent.

“We want to set the tone for Advent,” Rebecca says. “It’s a time to prepare for Advent, to really enter into the joy of Advent. It willbe a time of revival in people’s lives with the pinnacle being the birth of Christ. We want to focus on that.”

During the mission, we will have the opportunity to further deepen our relationship with Christ. Our relationship with Christ grows more beautiful as we are put under the challenges this year has brought.

“There are a couple references in the Scriptures that speak to how precious jewels are put under pressure until their glory is revealed,” Rebecca says. “We want the mission to increase hope in people and strengthen their faith. We have not been abandoned. He is walking within our midst. We can come through the other side stronger through the glory of Christ. That is the promise we have that we want to remind everyone.

The crucifixion and resurrection can’t be separated,” she adds. “The resurrection always comes afterthe crucifixion. This reveals the great promise of Christ to His people of renewal and revival that should strengthen our hope and faith. Advent is a hopeful season that culminates in the coming of Christ in the Flesh. He has not left us abandoned. Christ uses all our sufferings and difficulties for our good and through the Incarnation, Christ enters right into them. We can have absolute hope in these promises especially at this time in our lives. Our hope is that the Advent Mission will not only strengthen people’s faith and hope in these promises but that it can be a reminder that the Incarnation reveals that ‘God is with us’, that we have a good Father and He is good not just sometimes but always.”

If you would like more information about the upcoming Youth Advent Mission, please refer to the weekly bulletin and the parish website at www.cathedralctk.org.