THE Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement is re-establishing itself as a vital cog in the youth ministry scene in Brisbane archdiocese.
For 60 years the YCW movement played a major role in the Catholic Church’s youth ministry in Brisbane, helping young adults live out their faith in their daily lives.
The movement recently re-emerged in Brisbane, after a tough few years, with a new leadership team and new goals.
New groups have started in Lutwyche parish, Redlands Bayside Deanery and Mt Olivet Hospital at Kangaroo Point, and more are in the pipeline.
New archdiocesan president Tammie Addley said it felt like the movement had been reborn.
‘We’ve been through a difficult period, but the mission of the YCW is something that I really believe in, and our movement will always be relevant because it starts from the lives of young people,’ she said.
‘That’s why we’ll always bounce back.’
Tammie said YCW was committed to fighting injustice at all levels, from the personal to the global, to bring about a world where all people are treated with dignity and equality.
She said this mission was founded in the Gospel and the life of a young worker named Jesus.
Tammie said YCW organised its ministry through local groups, empowering young people to take action in their lives using the See-Judge-Act method.
‘Whilst many young people can’t see why faith or spirituality is important, the YCW believes it has a method that makes faith important to their everyday lives,’ she said.
‘Because we start from real life situations, spirituality suddenly becomes relevant to young people like myself and that’s why the See-Judge-Act method is so valuable.’
She said the movement had received much support from the wider Church community, from Archbishop John Bathersby to deaneries, priests and parishes.
In a show of solidarity and support YCW’s national secretary, Sara Kane, and national chaplain, Fr Tom Gleeson, visited the archdiocese recently.
Brisbane YCW youth worker Devett O’Brien said the Brisbane team had also introduced SMARTcasual, a campaign to serve, educate and represent young casual workers so they can create fairer and more just workplaces.
In February, YCW also launched ‘Get SMART about Casual Work’, a 10-lesson curriculum module that educates Year 10 students about their rights and responsibilities as casual workers.
The kit has been sent to every high school in Oueensland and more than 20 schools are already using it.
