THE Catholic Church should be happier and could learn from other religions is the message the youth of Hendra/Northgate parish have submitted to the 2003 Brisbane archdiocesan Synod consultation process.
Youth got together on August 26 at Hendra parish hall to discuss the four issues to be explored by the synod and to identify problems and propose solutions.
The evening was conducted by six young people who were selected by the parish to conduct the youth stream consultation.
Brooke Thompson, Jennifer Callaghan, Daniel Robinson, Eric Robinson, Libby Scales and Amanda Smith decided the evening should be an informal gathering so that those attending did not feel alienated, excluded or silly by taking part.
Brooke said this was accomplished by having participants sit in a circle on the floor, with lit candles and a lamp and background music.
She said each of the four issues was summarised and printed on a hand-out before discussions began.
The consultation team then took note of all points raised and later collated them into problems and solutions with a final summary page of the general thoughts of the evening.
As well as suggesting the Church learn from other denominations the report said that the young people of the parish agreed that the Church seemed irrelevant to aspects of their life.
It read, ‘Being Christian should permeate every aspect of the way we live our life, but this is impossible when we can’t even practise the liturgy in a way that is relevant to us. Masses are uninspiring, the music is sombre, the language is archaic and the environment is void of emotion.’
The report goes on to state that existing congregations are equally uninspiring.
‘As Catholics, we declare during every liturgy that we wait in ‘joyful hope’ for our Lord, the Saviour. We use terms like ‘joy, glory, glad, hope and Alleluia’, but the congregation never sounds convinced of the emotions attached to the words.
‘The prospect of eternal life in the Kingdom of God doesn’t seem to make Catholics want to be happy and joyful. Catholics use these words in such a hollow way. People aren’t happy when they attend liturgies, they aren’t happy that they have the privilege of worshipping their creator.’
In terms of solutions to the problems the consultation identified, the final report included more than 40 proposed solutions which could increase youth participation within the Church.
The group believed that it was a privilege to be a Christian and that the Church should look after its existing congregations.
‘The Catholic Church can do so many little things that can help people get in touch with their emotions and celebrate their Christianity and the Eucharist with vigour,’ they said.
