THE Australian Catholic bishops are promoting a program designed specifically to help keep the spirit of World Youth Day 2008 alive among young people.
The program, called Rewired, is being offered through the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s National Office for Evangelisation.
Director of the National Office for Evangelisation Marita Winters said parishes, schools, Church movements and youth ministry teams were invited to tap into the enthusiasm generated by WYD08 in Sydney last month by using the program.
Ms Winters said the program was designed to help such groups capitalise on the enthusiasm of WYD08 in a lasting way.
The program aims to connect young people more deeply with Jesus Christ and their parish community.
All eyes were on Sydney during WYD08 as the youth of the world joined with the Pope Benedict XVI for a festival of prayer, faith enrichment and fun.
Ms Winters, herself a veteran of three World Youth Days, said the week would have sparked a deeper awareness of faith in many young pilgrims and perhaps in some young people who for one reason or another were not able to make the pilgrimage.
Ms Winters said Rewired provided parishes, schools and other Church groups with an easy-to-use resource to help welcome young people in the period immediately following World Youth Day, and into the future.
The Rewired resource can be run by youth leaders over six sessions and provides an environment for young people to reflect, share and grow in their faith.
Copies of Rewired went on sale during World Youth Day and are available from the National Office for Evangelisation.
Visit the National Office for Evangelisation website at www.evangeliseaustralia.com or phone (02) 9211 4470 or toll free on 1300 4 FAITH (1300 432 484).