The Archdiocese has launched a vision for where it wants to be and how it wants to work with – and for – young Australians today.
The Archdiocese has launched a new resource to guide all youth groups, parish councils, Catholic schools and Archdiocesan agencies working with youth.
The new resource was launched after a Youth Leaders’ Commissioning Mass on Thursday, 4 February in St Mary’s Cathedral.
The Mass was presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton at which Parish youth leaders, youth leaders of Catholic agencies, youth movements or communities were commissioned to carry out their work with young people in the name of the Church.
Approximately 150 young people attended and participated in the evening event.
The resource, which has been developed by the Perth Catholic Youth Network, is entitled The Journey Forth – a youth vision document for the Archdiocese of Perth and aims to develop and apply specifically in Perth an earlier document issued in July last year by the nation’s Catholic Bishops, Anointed and Sent – an Australian vision for Catholic Youth Ministry.
Three new Catholic Youth Ministry staff were also commissioned for 2010 at last Thursday’s event.
They are: Tom Gourlay, who will be a Youth Ministry Worker for northern Parishes, Mathew De Sousa, who will work in Information Technology and Graphic Design, and Fr Roman Wroblewski SDS who has become the new CYM Chaplain.
The new guiding document for youth ministry in Perth recommends the development of eight focus areas for those engaged in this kind of work. These are:
– Prayer and Worship
– Evangelisation
– Catechesis
– Pastoral Care
– Community Life
– Justice and Service
– Leadership Development
– Advocacy.
The focus areas represent a development of three key directions set out by the nation’s Bishops in their own document of fostering the total personal and spiritual growth of young people, drawing them into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community and, finally, empowering them to live as disciples of Christ in today’s world.
The resource was distributed to all participants at the Mass, however copies are available from the CYM website www.cym.com.au.
Catholic Youth Ministry director Anita Parker told The Record the new document “will continue to build on the efforts of World Youth Day 2008 to enliven youth ministry across the diocese.”
Bishop Sproxton told those attending the evening event that young people are an important part of the Church community.
“The document Anointed and Sent from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and now our local document The Journey Forth emphasise that young people have an active role to play in the Church and that their contribution is welcome,” he said.
“I thank the Catholic Youth Network for their efforts in beginning The Journey Forth and look forward to seeing where the journey leads us as we continue to build the faith community especially for the young people of our local Church.
“The Archbishop and I welcome the development of The Journey Forth and we are confident that this resource will assist parishes, schools and communities as they reflect on the needs of their young people.”
Earlier, Anita Parker told those gathered in St Mary’s that the launch of the new youth document was only the beginning.
“We would love to gather local schools, parishes, priests, youth workers, Church agencies together to workshop this document. When you read it – we hope you will feel inspired and guided in setting out youth ministry,” she said. Although she was unable to be present on the evening, Catherine Gallo Martinez was also commissioned to work with the southern and eastern parishes, complementing the role of fellow CYM worker Tom Gourlay for northern parishes.
Ms Parker said the year ahead would be exciting for CYM.
Among key events looming in the near future were:
– University Orientation Days, where either the local on-campus Catholic Society or CYM would be present.
She urged Catholics studying at tertiary level to sign up as a member and engage with their local university Catholic events.
– Forrest Chase – on Sunday, 28 March from 12-3pm there would be an afternoon celebration of WYD 2010, followed by a Cathedral Youth Mass at 5pm.
– A Sand Sculpture competition will be held on Saturday, 10 April. Ms Parker also urged parishes to organise team entries for a chance to win great prizes and the perpetual trophy.