Detroit — During his pontificate, Pope John Paul II would urge the Church to look to young Christians for an example of how all Christians should live – with enthusiasm for Christ and acceptance of Him as a model for living.

Today’s Christians ought to heed that message, said Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron during his Palm Sunday homily at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

“We should see through the eyes of young Christians,” the archbishop said to hundreds gathered – including many youths. “That is, to see today through the hearts and minds of young Christians – see how we have to lay hold of the gifts of God’s mercy.”

Archbishop Vigneron said the upcoming May 1 beatification of Pope John Paul II, who exhibited a great love for Christian youths, “casts its glow on all these days before it.”



He lauded the youths of the Church for following Christ “with enthusiasm, with young hearts, with full hearts.”

“In claiming Jesus as your King, you accept him as the one who comes from God,” he said. “And you testify that you find him as your model, your mentor.”

Archbishop Vigneron stressed that the message the late Holy Father put forth was one of how God chose to extend his mercy on his people.

Young people at the Mass said the message in the Archbishops homily put the focus on them.

“It made me feel older than the old people,” said Imanuelyka Lerias, 12, of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township.



Imanuelyka said coming to Detroit’s mother church for the Palm Sunday  Mass “feels good, because you’re being blessed.”

Travis Allor, a 34-year-old parishioner at St. Therese whose wife is involved with youth ministry there, agreed with the archbishop’s message that Christians should see an example in the Church’s youths.

“Exactly. We need to,” Allor said. “The youth are who are going to be leading us in the future, and we have to make sure that they have the right example.”

Following the Mass, the youths were invited to a reception with Archbishop Vigneron.