Journeying Together
A series of online talks for the youth ministry community
Youth ministry has to be synodal; it should involve a “journeying together” that values “the charisms of that the Spirit bestows in accordance with the vocation and role of each of the Church’s members[…] Motivated by this spirit, we can move towards a participatory and co-responsible Church, one capable of appreciating its own rich variety […] No one should be excluded or exclude themselves.
Over the next few months CYMFed is hosting monthly online talks for the youth ministry community. We have a line-up of inspiring speakers from across the world, all with significant experience in youth ministry and the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. We hope to feed, encourage and provide some practical tools as we journey on in our ministry to young people. You can watch the talks live on YouTube.
5 years after the Pope’s incredible encyclical Laudato Si’, in the midst of a pandemic, join a conversation exploring caring for our common home. From the impacts of climate change today to the place of faith, from activism to planting trees, we want to hear and respond to ‘the cry of the earth’.
We’ll be joined by:
– Anna, teenage Catholic student committed to climate justice
– Fr Liam O’Callaghan, Columban Missionary in Pakistan
– James Trewby, Columban Justice and Peace Education
AG Sano, artist and activist in the Philippines.
Previous Talks
Sr Nathalie was an observer of the Youth Synod and has since been appointed as a Consulter to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. Sr Nathalie will share her insight and observations of the 2018 Youth Synod and the importance of synodality in the evangelisation of young people.
Pope Francis, in reflecting on young people he encountered and listened to, notes that “at times, the hurt felt by some young people is heart-rending, a pain too deep for words” yet also expressed his hope that “all young people who are suffering (may) feel the closeness of Christian community that can reflect (Jesus’) words by its actions, its embrace, and its concrete help” (Christus Vivit, 77).
When we encounter young people experiencing traumas, anxieties, and uncertainties in difficult times, God truly speaks through our words and actions. First and foremost, before any programming we may envision for the young, the Church is called to accompany youth and young adults with a pastoral approach, to be a “field hospital” responding to and tending the wounds of young people who are often overwhelmed and struggling in life today. How do we practically do this? This session will explore some simple, yet effective, ways that all leaders in the Church can truly take the pastoral approach in ministering with young people.
Paul is Assistant Director, Youth and Young Adult Ministries at the United States Conference of Bishops. Sarah is the Coordinator for College Campus and Young Adult Ministries in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Highlighted by the General Synod Fathers, Pope Francis in Christus Vivit calls us all to adopt rigorous preventative measures, actions and sanctions to ensure the safety of young people in the life of the Church and the world (97).
Building upon a personal relationship with Jesus and well-formed theology, today’s youth minister needs to have a good understanding of the requirements for safeguarding, accountable governance, risk management and compliance. The safety of young people requires comprehensive safety and wellbeing planning for each ministry initiative and the organisation bodies overseeing them.
Malcolm Hart was the Director of the Office for Youth with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference from 2009-2019 and has over 25 years’ ministry experience. Building upon the development of ministry vision and formation resources, Malcolm was called to manage national gatherings for over 20,000 youth and international travel companies services for WYD. In 2018 Malcolm was appointed a Consultor to the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. James is the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Parramatta. James will share how the principles and experiences Malcolm will talk about are implemented in his diocese and parish settings.
You can download the slides from Malcolm’s talk as a PDF here:
This year in England and Wales we celebrate the Year of the Word- ‘The God Who Speaks’.
In recent months, the Church has embraced the use of technology. It is such an important tool in communicating the Word of God in our digital era. Fr Michel, author of Tweeting with God, talks about evangelising the digital world; a newly urgent topic as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fr Michel has extensive experience in Youth Ministry and is currently the Youth Chaplain for Luxembourg.