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Bishop Richard joined our diocesan Youth Adviser, Lizzie Wakeling for an "Evening of Reflection" for Confirmation candidates on Friday, at St Michael's in Worthing. The evening – which included a number of "ice breaker" activities, group discussions, and Lectio Divina – was the sixth of eight, with previous evenings taking place at Arundel Cathedral, Horsham, Guildford, Weybridge, Eastbourne, Worthing, Epsom and Redhill.

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of our Diocese, with more than 1,000 young people due to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Arundel Cathedral this year, and nearly 500 candidates joining Bishop Richard and Lizzie as part of our Evening of Reflection programme. Speaking earlier this week, Lizzie said:

"I really enjoy hosting these evenings; young people can get such a bad press, but when you spend time with them and begin to see them as individuals, all wonderfully created by God in His image, you start to understand the struggles they face and how hard they are trying to be good people in a world that demands so much of them.

"It is also a real blessing to be in the room with young people genuinely trying to hear what God is saying to them through Lectio Divina. I hope and pray that – in conjunction with all the excellent work our dedicated Catechists do, and the love and prayers of their family and community – that they will go on to become prayerful, well-formed disciples who are equipped for mission in the new and exciting era that we are all called to minister in."

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