BRISBANE Catholic youth initiatives are invited to share their stories and perspectives in a new archdiocesan project that will help guide youth ministry beyond 2014.
Newly appointed youth project consultant Teresa Delsorte, who has 10 years’ experience in youth ministry with National Evangelisation Teams Ministries, will head this new project operating under the archdiocese’s new entity for mission and formation, Evangelisation Brisbane.
Over a 12-month period, Miss Delsorte will develop a proposal for youth ministry between 2015 and 2017 based on input from all Catholic youth initiatives in Brisbane archdiocese.
An important aspect of the research will be encouraging relationships between all the various Catholic youth initiatives in Brisbane which, according to Miss Delsorte, were extremely diverse.
“I love what’s here in the archdiocese,” she said.
“There are so many different opportunities that cater to a range of people and enable people from all walks of life to connect with God.”
Miss Delsorte said she hoped to visit and meet personally with all youth initiatives over the next 12 months.
“My first step, with this research project, is talking to the people who know, people who are on the ground,” she said.
“My job is to listen and then collate the responses, to understand what the voices across this archdiocese are saying.
“Yes, I’m going to want to talk to young people who are themselves being evangelised, but I also trust the experience of people, for example, who have been working in a parish for the last 10 years and have seen their youth group come and go.
“I want to hear those stories – all facets of people trying to reach young people.
“Then I want to talk to young people.
“What has drawn them to their faith and what supports them in keeping their faith alive?”
Miss Delsorte said it was important for people to be honest and open about their expectations and needs of the archdiocese and to share what had worked and what had not.
At this early stage, Miss Delsorte was unsure of the outcome of the research.
She said it would depend on the depth of responses she received.
“It all comes down to the conversations and listening to the people who are on the ground right now, and finding out from them what they need from an archdiocesan perspective,” she said.
“I want to know where they would like to see youth ministry heading in the archdiocese over the next three years.
“What could the archdiocese be doing to support the evangelisation of young people today?”
All Catholic youth ministry leaders and young people are invited to add to the research and final report by emailing youthproject@bne.catholic.net.au or phoning 3336 9339.
