Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults

DIOCESAN YOUTH ASSEMBLY

Despite the continued disruptions due to COVID, 2021 was a busy and successful year in COYYA.

Starting the year’s events was the annual youth ministry leaders’ conference, New Horizons, which attracted the most registrations in the four years it has been held. Keynote speakers were youth ministry coordinators James Camden of the Diocese of Parramatta and Ellen Hales of the Diocese of Lismore, who also conducted workshops. Participants came away from the day with skills, formation and a feeling of connection with other youth ministers, teachers, and pastoral workers. Following the conference, COYYA has regularly gathered youth ministry leaders for ongoing community building and formation, both online and in person. In May, COYYA invited Melbournebased Catholic musician Genevieve Bryant to Adelaide for a series of workshops and performances. It began with a Laudato Si’ workshop for secondary school senior students in the Cathedral Hall in the lead up to the Student Strike 4 Climate rally in Victoria Square. The workshop focused on understanding Catholic commitment to environmental stewardship and action. Ms Bryant also provided liturgical music workshops at Cardijn College and for a general audience of young people on the weekend. She performed a concert at the annual Pentecost youth vigil, Threshold: Inspire, held at The Monastery, Urrbrae. Arch D Radio continued to expand its reach into schools, developing a new classroom curriculum for media and student-created podcasting. The weekly radio show on 1079Life FM remains the station’s most listened-to program. Arch D celebrated its 10th anniversary at the 2021 awards with a special 1920s theme at the Capri Theatre.

Much of the latter part of the year focused on supporting the 2021 Diocesan Assembly and the Diocesan Youth Assembly. The first such event in nearly 40 years, the youth assembly was held on the Feast of Christ the King in November to coincide with the new annual local celebration of World Youth Day (previously celebrated on Palm Sunday). More than 200 young people from various schools, communities, parishes and groups gathered with Archbishop O’Regan and the Council for Ministry for Young People for a day of discussion and celebration at Nazareth College, Findon. The results of the youth assembly will be rolled into the Diocesan Assembly and 2023 Synod reports.

COYYA hosted an end of year Thanksgiving dinner for all youth ministry leaders. It was a simple celebration to thank youth ministry leaders for their hard work, particularly in the midst of the pandemic. It was also a way to farewell outgoing COYYA team members Peter Bierer, Holly Roberts and Sam Sachse.

Peter Bierer

Coordinator, Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults