By Sr Anastasia Perera, RGS, Sri Lanka (Province of Sri Lanka / Pakistan)

Over the past 20 years, my journey with the youth of Sri Lanka has been deeply enriching. Their unwavering faith, contagious enthusiasm, and vibrant energy continue to inspire me. These young hearts have not only impressed me but have also stirred within me an ever-growing desire to serve them—and, through them, to serve the Church. Walking alongside them has been a powerful invitation to deepen my own faith in our awesome God.

Three young people from the Jesus Youth Movement in Sri Lanka were meant to accompany me to the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, only one was able to attend the recent Jubilee celebrations. In Assisi, where the Jesus Youth Movement went on pilgrimage, the spirit of unity and mission was strongly felt. There, 165 young people from 23 countries gathered to “Dream with Hope” and build God’s Kingdom together as one family within the Church.

My experience during the Jubilee affirms my belief that these young people are truly rooted in the values of the Kingdom. As we accompany them on their journey through life, we can witness their growth into individuals who reflect the Good Shepherd in their daily lives—through their words, actions, and relationships.

The Jubilee Year gathering, which drew over a million young people from around the world to Rome, was a powerful reminder that we belong to a universal Church. It stood as a testament to the fact that a different world is possible—“a world of fraternity and friendship where conflicts are not resolved with weapons but with dialogue,” as Pope Leo XIV reminded the youth.

As I continue to accompany the youth in both local and global contexts, I share with them a common dream: to live and build the Kingdom of God—together.