Monday 24 November 2008

More than 330 people from dioceses, religious congregations, groups and movements across the country came together for the National Youth Leaders Gathering in Sydney at the weekend in a bid to chart the way forward for youth ministry after the World Youth Day experience.

After two days of presentations and small group interaction, the Gathering produced a blueprint for the coordination of youth ministry into the future which will be presented to the Bishops of Australia during this week’s ACBC Plenary Meeting in Sydney.

Keynote speaker at the conference dinner on Saturday night was Fr Tom Rosica who headed up Toronto’s WYD proceedings in 2002.  Other speakers at the Gathering included Fr Michael Mason who outlined the findings of research into pilgrims’ experiences.

Young people also shared their experiences of WYD and looked at where youth ministry is at today in Australia and where it can go in the future.

Bishop Joseph Grech, who, along with Bishop Eugene Hurley, spoke at the Gathering, said the whole weekend was “marvellous, just tremendous”.

"What we heard as Bishops was that this was a cry from these young people from so many different areas of the Church to be truly, officially recognised by the bishops and priests," Bishop Grech said.

"What we are doing is a first step. We are saying we want to hear you, we want to listen to your voice, and what we can do, we will do together."

Bishop Grech stressed that unity in difference would be a key to strong youth ministry into the future.
"Whatever parish, whatever diocese, whatever group or movement, whatever your particular charism, and whatever nationality you are from, we all need to be involved and to work in unity."

Bishop Grech also recognised that while there was a wonderful roll-up at the Youth Leaders Gathering, representing many areas of Church life, "we must keep in mind that we are still only dealing with a small number of people".

"We shouldn’t give up on those not in the pews, not in our Catholic secondary schools and also those many young people who are pre-secondary.

"We need to remember that we are preparing all our young people for all kinds of vocations, and also for eternity."

The blueprint from the National Youth Leaders Gathering will be presented to the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life this week.