Voices of youth to be heard
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The hopes and ideas of young Catholics will be discussed and prioritised at the 2022 Diocesan Youth Assembly being held at St Thomas School, Goodwood, on September 17.
In an invitation to youth of the Adelaide Archdiocese, Archbishop Patrick O’Regan said the Youth Assembly was one way for the local Church to: “listen to the voices of young people, for young people themselves to exercise agency and leadership, to share dreams, ideas; to discern together and to make recommendations and decisions about the areas of life in the Church that directly impact on them”.
“While it is true that young people are the future of the Church, Pope Francis reminds us that young people are also the ‘now’ of the Church,” Archbishop O’Regan said.
He quoted from Pope Francis’ comments in Christus Vivit:
‘They are its present; even now, they are helping to enrich it. Young people are no longer children. They are at a time of life when they begin to assume a number of responsibilities, sharing alongside adults in the growth of the family, society and the Church. Yet the times are changing, leading us to ask: What are today’s young people really like? What is going on in their lives?’
Archbishop O’Regan said 15 young people from the Youth Assembly would be chosen as participants in the Diocesan Assembly in October.
“They will carry the collective voice, experiences and input of the Youth Assembly, as well as contribute as equal members of the Diocesan Assembly,” he said.
Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults coordinator Julian Nguyen said the Youth Assembly was a gathering specifically for young people aged 16-30 years.
“Connected to the Diocesan Assembly, it is a space for young people to meet and discuss issues and ideas that matter to them and come up with recommendations and strategies for ways that they, their faith communities and the Archdiocese of Adelaide can respond to the needs and priorities of young people and our local Catholic communities,” he said.
“This is an important gathering to ensure young people’s prophetic voices are heard as the entire Catholic church community is cultivating a culture of synodality – of journeying together.”
For more information, visit www.cathyouthadelaide.org.au.
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