AYM 2025 – Day Two: Youth Listen to the Call and Renew Their Commitment Ankawa – Thursday, July 10, 2025

On the second day of the Ankawa Youth Meeting AYM 2025, the journey of grace continued at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, where hundreds of young people gathered for prayer, reflection, and discernment.

The day began with Mass, presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil. In his moving homily, he focused on the hidden call of God in human life, drawing inspiration from the stories of Samuel, Jeremiah, and the early apostles. He reminded the youth that “The lamp of God has not gone out,” and that the Lord continues to whisper in their hearts, inviting them to rise and answer the call without fear or hesitation.

In a sincere and fatherly tone, the Archbishop urged them to listen attentively, saying: “Do not conform to this world… but present yourselves as a living sacrifice.” He emphasized that every young person carries within them a unique grace and a distinct mission, and that the Church needs them all — they are living witnesses in places the Church cannot always reach.

Following the Mass, Fr. Roy Abdallah, a Lebanese priest from the Maronite Marian Order, gave a powerful talk about the responsibility of youth in times of crisis. He called them to move away from the mindset of “It’s not my responsibility,” and instead embrace a mature declaration: “This is my responsibility,” toward the Church and the world, rooted in Scripture and the lives of the saints.

Fr. Fadi Leon also offered a spiritual reflection entitled “The Heart and Its Desires,” helping the youth explore the depths of their inner longings as a first step in honest and authentic vocational discernment — one free from superficial influences.

A panel discussion featuring representatives from various male and female religious orders shared their experiences in consecrated life and their mission in the Church. This was followed by the screening of a documentary about Blessed Carlo Acutis—soon to be a saint—the young teen whose simplicity and total dedication to Christ in the digital age touched the hearts of many.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in a reflective reading from the Gospel of Mark during an interactive session titled “A Dialogue with Simon Peter: How and Why Did You Follow Jesus?” Small group discussions provided space for open and sincere conversations about discipleship and vocations today.

The evening concluded with Eucharistic Adoration under the theme “Here I Am, Lord,” which included scripture meditations, moments of silence, and personal spiritual reflections. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was present for all, with 32 priests available. A large number of young people approached the sacrament, seeking to renew their relationship with the Lord.

Thus, the participants of AYM 2025 encountered the grace of vocation anew — not as an abstract idea, but as a living journey of commitment and listening. For the voice of the Lord still calls: “Here I am, I am sending you…” and the Church awaits those who will answer: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”