“Hobart Archdiocese will host the fifth Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention in July 2020. We will continue what has been a period of intense focus, both locally and internationally, on the place of younger Catholics in the Church. Over the last three years, through the Australian Year of Youth, the comprehensive survey of young Australian Catholics and the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment, the Church has deeply explored the giftedness of young people and the opportunities they offer the Church.” This is what Malcolm Hart, Director of the Office for youth of the same Dicastery reported to Agenzia Fides.
The event will be a national gathering for all those working in youth ministry in different contexts across the country, in parishes, schools, dioceses, movements, universities and organizations.
According to Hart, the apostolic exhortation that followed the Synod of Bishops “Christus Vivit”, “calls the entire people of God to accompany young people where they are and to be open to the voice of Christ speaking through them in what Pope Francis calls ‘the now of God’ “.
The event will focus on accompanying young people: through the testimony of speakers, workshops and interactive presentations, children will be guided to discover their role within local communities, in schools, in the Church. Space will also be given to Australian children who have participated in the various phases of the Synod of Bishops: they will share their ideas on the “Christus Vivit” and advice on how to put it into practice on a national and diocesan level.
“Conversation and confrontation on the final message of the Synod are essential. For this reason, in the coming months, the Australian Church will read, reflect and begin to act on the Exhortation before meeting in July 2020 to share the various reflections and think of a possible implementation”, concluded Hart
