Now in its fourth year, the city’s young adult community has grown into vibrant hub for young adults in their 20s and 30s, offering worship, retreats, and outreach initiatives.
Following Mass, Archbishop Cushley, spent time with the young adults, encouraging them to take an active role in the life of the Church. He previously spoke at the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre’s “Faith & Politics” series in 2022.
Fr David Stewart SJ, who leads the ministry in Edinburgh, reflected on the visit:
"We were delighted to host Archbishop Leo Cushley to celebrate with us the feast of Christ the King. In the sanctuary, we were glad to welcome guest concelebrants from the diocese, from the Dominicans at the nearby University Chaplaincy, to a Cistercian monk from Nunraw Abbey in East Lothian. Our young adult congregation was composed of many regulars but also some first-timers. We’re seeing several new faces every week!"
"Archbishop Cushley spoke of his joy at seeing this Young Adult Ministry flourish and encouraged those present to involve themselves at every opportunity. He spent a long time after Mass enjoying their company at the social that always follows The Seven. They, in turn, were delighted that he took time to speak to so many. The celebration and gathering afterwards echoed Pope Leo’s words to young people earlier in the week that they are “not only the church of the future but the church of now”.
He went on to highlight the wider context of the celebration. The late Pope Francis asked that the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, be a Global Celebration of Young People for Catholic Christians: "The original institution of such a universal liturgical festival of youth and young adults was declared by St. John Paul II in 1985. In 2020, Pope Francis announced Christ the King Sunday as the new day when the Church would celebrate young people every year."
Fr David also looked back at the beginnings of the ministry: "It was Easter Sunday 2022 when we first launched an invitation to young adults to gather at our evening Mass in Edinburgh, moving it from its 8.00pm slot to its new, earlier time. We had been welcoming a small but growing number of young adults or several months and had introduced a low-key social gathering afterwards; this is when this new ministry was fully underway."
By September 2022, a new music ministry had been formed, and outreach opportunities expanded, including service with the city’s street homeless and a core group of young adults to advise the church’s pastoral team on matters relevant to young adults: "Now, we are linking more closely with the Jesuit Young Adult Ministries in London and Glasgow, as well as the growing global “Mag+s” network of Ignatian Young Adult Ministries. Together, we want to build a hope-filled future.”
All of Edinburgh Young Adult Ministry’s online platforms—including social media, event updates, and resources—can be accessed through their LinkTree, making it easy for young adults to stay connected and engaged.
You can also find out more about the ministry on the Jesuits in Britain website here.
