Catholics across Hull and the surrounding area attended a special Mass at Saint Charles on Saturday 20th June followed by “Call to Mission” event featuring Dominican priest and speaker Fr John Church OP.

Although especially aimed at young adults aged 18–34, the event was attended by Catholics of all ages to explore deepening their faith, exploring mission and evangelisation, and engaging with the challenges facing the Church in the modern world.

The event comprised two sessions. “Your Mission” featured a talk by Fr Church and was held at Saint Charles. Following lunch in the function room at the Kingston Theatre Hotel “Our Mission” featured group discussions on key questions led by Patrick Doyle OP and Fr Church who at the conclusion drew the themes together.

Fr John posed a fundamental question, What is the point of being a Christian, and what is our mission?

Fr John began by challenging the common idea that mission is something that belongs only to priests, religious sisters, or missionaries working in distant countries. While these are important expressions of mission, he reminded us that mission belongs to every baptised Christian.

At the end of every Mass we are sent out into the world. The Church gathers us together, nourishes us through Word and Sacrament, and then sends us forth. Mission is therefore not an optional extra for a few enthusiastic people. It is part of what it means to be Christian.

Drawing on Christ's words, “As the Father sent me, so I send you,” Fr John explained that our own sending is rooted in the very life of God. The Father sends the Son into the world, and the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit. The Church participates in that same divine mission. Being sent is therefore not simply something the Church does; it belongs to the Church's very nature.

This means that Christians cannot simply stand still as spectators. We are called to be a pilgrim people, journeying towards heaven and helping others on that journey. Fr John stressed that our faith is not given to us simply for ourselves. The faith we receive is meant to be shared, and in sharing it our own faith is strengthened and deepened.

A key theme of the morning was that every person has a unique calling. Fr John reminded us that God has entrusted each of us with a particular task that is not entrusted to anyone else. We may not always see the full picture, but each of us has a role in God's plan.

To explore what this might look like, Fr John reflected on three images used by Jesus.

First, Christians are called to be salt of the earth. Salt is ordinary and often unnoticed, yet essential. Through the example of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, he showed how holiness is often found in faithful love expressed through everyday life, family responsibilities and service to others.

“Love and sacrifice are closely linked., like the sun and light. We cannot love without suffering and we cannot suffer without love.” Saint Gianna Molla

Secondly, Christians are called to be the light of the world. Fr John illustrated how a life filled with joy, faith and love for others can become a witness that draws people towards God. Light is visible. It points beyond itself and enables others to see. As an example, Pier Giorgio who was a young Italian Catholic whose deep faith inspired a life of service to others. Born into a prominent family in Turin in 1901, he devoted himself to helping the poor, supporting Catholic organisations, and standing up for Christian values in a rapidly changing society. Known for his love of the mountains, he adopted the motto “Verso l’alto” (“To the heights”), reflecting both his passion for climbing and his desire for holiness. He died from polio in 1925 at the age of 24, leaving behind a powerful example of joyful faith, charity, and commitment to Christ. He was beatified in 1990 and canonised in 2025.

“Jesus says his disciples are to be the light of the world. Let your light shining before others, so that they may see your good words, and give glory to your Father in heaven. Christians are called the light up the world. So that seeing their good works, their love, and may give rule to God.”

Finally, Christians are called to be yeast in the dough. Yeast works quietly but transforms everything around it.

Fr John’s example was Bartolo Longo, whose life demonstrated the transforming power of God’s grace. As a young man he drifted away from the faith and became involved in anti-Christian beliefs and practices. Through the guidance of faithful Catholics, he eventually returned to the Church and underwent a profound conversion. Determined to dedicate his life to Christ, he became a Dominican tertiary and devoted himself to spreading devotion to the Rosary. His work led to the establishment of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Pompeii and inspired numerous charitable initiatives serving the local community. Canonised in 2025, Bartolo Longo’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that even the most unlikely lives can become instruments of His mission.

Fr John spoke about the transforming power of conversion and the way God can work through ordinary people to change lives and build His Kingdom.

Throughout the morning, Fr John repeatedly returned to one central message: God has given every Christian a mission.

The question is not whether we have a mission, but what that mission is and how God wishes to use our gifts, talents and circumstances for the building up of His Kingdom.

The afternoon session built on these themes through group discussion and reflection, helping parishioners consider both their personal calling and the future mission of our parish community.