The West Africa Youth Days in Accra gather thousands of young Catholics under one banner: “Take courage: Catholic youth as actors and agents of peace and hope in West Africa.”
In a region marked by diversity, challenges, and promise, this celebration calls the youth to rise with courage, rooted in Christ, and inspired by the saints who embody their mission.
The youth were presented with the life of some saints. One outstanding saint is Blessed Carlos Acutis who uses social media and technology to promote Eucharistic adoration.
First of them all is St. Charles Lwanga.
Charles Lwanga, a Ugandan martyr, reminds youth that courage is not just resistance but a witness of faith. His defense of purity and dignity in the face of persecution calls West African youth to stand firm against corruption, violence, and peer pressure. He embodies the courage to be agents of peace in societies longing for justice.
St. Maria Goretti
Maria Goretti’s story of purity and forgiveness shows that hope is born from mercy. Her example teaches young people that reconciliation and forgiveness are powerful tools for healing communities fractured by conflict. She inspires youth to be actors of peace by choosing love over revenge.
Blessed Carlos Acutis
Carlos Acutis, a modern teenager, used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist. His life proves that courage today can mean using creativity and innovation to evangelize and build bridges. He calls West African youth to harness digital tools for unity, hope, and faith, becoming agents of transformation in the modern world.
St. Francis of Assisi, the joyful friar, embraced simplicity, peace, and care for creation. His witness challenges youth to be peacemakers and stewards of the environment. In a region facing ecological and social challenges, Francis inspires courage to live sustainably and to sow hope through service and humility.
Together, these saints embody the pillars of the celebration’s theme:
Courage like Lwanga — standing firm in truth and dignity.
Peace like Goretti — choosing forgiveness and reconciliation.
Hope like Carlos — using creativity to spread faith.
Peace and Joy like Francis — living simply and serving creation.
These saints remind the youth that courage is not reckless, peace is not passive, and hope is not naïve. They are active choices, lived daily, that transform families, parishes, and nations.
Call to the Youth of West Africa
The celebration in Accra is more than an event — it is a summons to action. Catholic youth are called to:Be witnesses of peace in schools, parishes, and communities.Promote reconciliation where divisions exist.Use creativity to evangelize and innovate.Care for creation as stewards of God’s gift.
With courage, peace, and hope, inspired by Charles Lwanga, Maria Goretti, Carlos Acutis, and Francis of Assisi, they are called to be actors of transformation in West Africa.
This celebration is a reminder: when youth take courage, the Church and society are renewed.
By Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC (Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana CASCON-GH)
