What to expect from a Year for Youth

The general aim set by the Australian Bishops is  "...prayerful discernment about the importance and life-giving presence of young people in the local Church and society....[through] dialogue and active engaged..."
Aim
  • The Year of Youth began with Advent and will last until the end of ordinary time in 2018. 
  • The general aim set by the Australian Bishops is  "...prayerful discernment about the importance and life-giving presence of young people in the local Church and society....[through] dialogue and active engagement focused on the reconnection and renewal of a new generation of young people in the life of the Church". (Read more ACBC YOY Website).

Planning for beyond 2018
  • In conjunction with the Year of Youth, the Australian Catholic Bishops have re-released the road-map document, 'Anointed and Sent'. The document is the bishops' 'shared vision' for animating and ministering to young people which will assist communities in planning beyond 2018. 
  • The world's bishops will gather in Rome in October in Synod where they will focus on "Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment". Our young people have already had an opportunity to contribute to the Synod via an online survey last year. Executive summaries of these surveys have been sent to Rome on behalf of each diocese to contribute to the bishops' deliberations. 
  • Archbishop Mark Coleridge has said that the Year of Youth is a foundational step towards the Australian Plenary Council scheduled for 2020. 

How communities are invited to contribute to the Year of Youth
  • A good starting point for parishes is the Anointed and Sent document, or any of the resources on the Australian Catholic Bishops Year of Youth website. The Year of Youth is an opportunity for renewal therefore intentional local planning is essential. These are more 'why' documents rather than 'how-to' documents. 
  • Gather and analyse demographics and services that effect youth in your area.  The YOY website has helpful links to access statistical information and advice on how to begin. 
  • Review the timeline of events on the YOY website. There seems to be two major dates for parishes to consider in liturgical planning:
                                      March 25: Palm Sunday/ Annual World Youth Day Local Celebrations
                                      May 20: Pentecost/ Message to Young People
                                                      (note, at this stage Brisbane is not producing a Pentecost message).

Thinking Liturgically
  • Goal Two of the Anointed and Sent Document is the most helpful when it comes to considering the Year of Youth in liturgical preparation:  "...To draw young people into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community..." (Read the whole goal here). 
  • Set realistic, achievable goals. Include young people in your planning and deliberations. Facebook is rarely the answer. The most effective invitation is a personal one (i.e. in person). 
  • Be wary of bolt-on or unsustainable practices. For example, make a conscious effort this year to invite young people  (who are good proclaimers!) to existing ministry formation rather than running a special youth-oriented formation session. 
  • Be contractual. Young people can find it difficult to commit to ministry projects with indefinable completion dates due to changing study timetables and part-time shift work commitments. Asking young people to re-commit to each roster/season can be effective. 
  • Be careful with your music choices.  Hillsong music is good when used judiciously. Remember, we sing what we believe. Hillsong music can be incompatible with a Eucharistic celebration.
  • Help young people re-discover and recontextualise a devotional, contemplative practice like praying the Rosary. Some parish youth groups have had great success by following devotional prayer with a shared meal. 
  • Consider subscribing to Liturgy News this year. We will be exploring the Year of Youth's liturgical context in every issue in 2018.

The Brisbane Archdiocese Youth Evangelisation Office is your best contact for further information. You can call them at Evangelisation Brisbane on 07 3324 3455 or via the Catholic Collective webpage. 

Additional Resources:
By James Robinson Education Officer Liturgy Brisbane
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