World Youth Day in Sydney changed the landscape of youth ministry nationally, the Australian bishops said today during a national gathering of Australian pilgrims currently participating at World Youth Day (WYD) events in Krakow, Poland.

Today, the Australian Bishops joined more than 3,000 young people at a national Australian gathering during WYD Krakow that included a launch of the ‘Year of Youth’, building on the legacy of World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).

The Year of Youth will celebrate the tenth anniversary of World Youth Day, Sydney and highlight how the Australian Church continues to tell the story of WYD08 in its local ministry.

Bishop Mark Edwards, Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Youth and an MC at the national gathering said, ‘The years of preparation leading up to World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08) and its events have changed the landscape of youth ministry leaving a lasting impression on the Church. Local youth ministries have grown and diversified. The number of youth ministers has increased along with diocesan support structures.

Speaking during a press conference after the gathering, Malcolm Hart, Director of the Australian Catholic Bishops, Office for Youth, said, ‘the Year of Youth utilises the anniversary of WYD08 to highlight the impact a concerted effort and focus on young people can have in the life of the Church’.

‘The Australian bishops have established a three year cycle of events to support and sustain youth ministry into the future, this includes: support and participation in World Youth Day’s, the engagement of a new generation of young Catholics through the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and increased training and formation of those working with young people through the Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention,’ Hart explained.

Following WYD08, the bishops established the Australian Catholic Youth Council, as a strategic advisory body, and created an Office for Youth to implement the Australian bishops vision for youth ministry, Anointed and Sent.

Commencing the Year of Youth in Sydney, the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in December 2017 will be the largest national gathering of the Catholic Church in Australia with an expected attendance of 15,000.

‘The challenge for a World Youth Day host city is how to make the event fruitful 10 years on. Australia could well be one of the countries that has leveraged World Youth Day in their own country to the greatest potential,’ Bishop Edwards said.

‘The anniversary of WYD08 provides an opportunity to refocus our commitment to a three year cycle of events setting a new standard for continuously renewing the Church’s mission of evangelisation in young people.’

Half of all Australian Catholic Bishops attended the gathering with special guest His Excellency Paul Wojciechowski, the Australian Ambassador to Poland. Hosted at the Mercy Centre in Tauron Arena, Krakow, the theme of the two-hour gathering was ‘Blessed are the Merciful’ with music, catechesis and testimonials reflecting this theme.

Highlights of the Australian gathering included an inspiring call to action from Bishop Comensoli, an insight into ‘Polish and Australian Spirituality’ by Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, an inviting homily preached by Bishop Patrick O’Regan and music by Victorian Priest, Fr Rob Galea.

Prayers of the faithful were said in five different languages representing the multi-cultural nature of the Church in Australia.

Bishops Edwards concluded that, ‘during the Year of Youth, it is crucial the Church engages with young people as a priority and re-affirms and sustains its work with them in the spirit of WYD08’.

Back to List


More News


22.04.2025

Death of Pope Francis - statement from Bishop Tim Harris

Statement from Most Rev. Tim Harris Catholic Bishop of Townsville on the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis Monday evening, like the rest of the world, I saw the news from the Vatican with the announcement that Pope Francis has died.He has been ...

Read Full Article
7.02.2025

An Open Letter to the Jewish Community

An Open Letter to the Jewish Community Dear sisters and brothers, We write as leaders of Christian communities in Queensland wanting to express our solidarity with you in the wake of recent antisemitic attacks, which have left the Jewish community generally f...

Read Full Article
4.02.2025

A Pastoral Message from Bishop Tim Harris regarding the flooding event

A Pastoral Message from Bishop Tim re the Flooding event Dear Friends, Greetings. In recent days many of you have experienced heavy rain and flooding. It seems for the most part however that Townsville has dodged a bullet in terms of the effects. Other commu...

Read Full Article
20.12.2024

North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services Announces Change of Constitution

Roman Catholic Trust Corporation of the Diocese of Townsville Announces Future Change to North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services Constitution The Roman Catholic Trust Corporation of the Diocese of Townsville (RCTCDT) has announced that signif...

Read Full Article
20.06.2024

Diocesan Safeguarding Audit celebrates achievements

Diocesan Safeguarding Audit celebrates achievements   An independent safeguarding audit of the Catholic Diocese of Townsville has assessed a 100 per cent compliance rating with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards according to the audit report pub...

Read Full Article
17.06.2024

Call to support the Peter’s Pence appeal in 2024

Call to support the Peter’s Pence appeal in 2024 Catholics around Australia are being encouraged to support the Peter’s Pence appeal on June 30, the Sunday after the Feast of St Peter and St Paul.  Donations to the appeal, which goes back to M...

Read Full Article
28.05.2024

FR DAVE CHARGES DROPPED

Today, Fr Dave Lancini has had all charges dismissed by the Magistrate after the prosecution offered no evidence to all charges. In November 2023 Fr Dave was charged with historic offences dating back to 1969. Fr Dave had strongly denied any involvement in th...

Read Full Article
25.01.2024

Parish Mass Cancellations

Parish Mass Cancellationsdue to Cyclone Kirrily Due the weather event and expected heavy rainfall and potiential of flodding, the following masses have been cancelled across the Diocese. Cathedral Parish The following Masses have been cancelled across the Pari...

Read Full Article
More Links in this section