Goal Two

To draw young people into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community

The Catholic faith community is the context in which young people need to be drawn into the life and mission of Jesus Christ. For most young people this includes the family, home, parish, school and youth-based groups or movements, where a stronger link to God can be nurtured. It is in all these arenas that young people should be encouraged to discover their Catholic identity and share and develop their God-given gifts, for mission in the local faith community and beyond.

Faith Communities should strive to be places that draw in young people, and give them a sense of belonging, of finding a home in the church and being given opportunities to minister side by side with adults. Young people are more likely to gain a sense of identity in the community when they are fully engaged as members, living their life in Christ. They need to be given opportunities to contribute in areas where they have gifts and skills, apprenticed in developing liturgical and parish ministry skills and maturity in each of the focus areas, which cannot happen in isolation.

Young people must be invited into relationships within the intergenerational community and nurtured in their ongoing relationship with God, understanding that their call is continually dependant on the Holy Spirit. In a world where people increasingly compartmentalise their lives, young people should be actively encouraged to draw from God as their source, principally through the liturgy, and to live Christ’s Mission in the world in both the personal and the community dimensions.

The church has a mission beyond that of the gathered worshipping community. It is the responsibility of all to encourage young people to use the skills and passion developed within the boundaries of a faith community to be principal agents in sharing God’s mission in the wider world.