Newsletter 3: 2 March 2021

Dear Colleagues,

Responding to the voice of the Spirit

The document Anointed and Sent presents a common vision of the Australian Catholic Bishops for animating and nurturing the spiritual life of young people. In the foreword, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, the Bishop Delegate for Youth, explains:

Anointed and Sent addresses the whole Church as it seeks to connect better with young people and to ensure they encounter Jesus Christ in and through them. It calls faith communities proactively to engage with young people as they grow in faith and help grow the faithful. By opening our hearts and doors to young people and responding to the voice of the Spirit within them, the Church is continually re-animated for her mission.

We Marists have long been committed to Youth Ministry. Documents such as Evangelisers in the midst of Youth and the REMAR programme have been enormously influential here in Australia and overseas. As previously reported, recently the Marist Youth Ministry Team held a Youth Ministry Formators Conference for two days online. There were 60 participants, whose energy and engagement reflected close alignment with the aspirations for Youth Ministry of the Australian Bishops and we Marists.

The new Marist Youth Ministry Programme, Game Changers, which was launched in 2020 is proving to be extremely popular with Marist Schools. The design of the Programme was led by then MYM National Coordinator Brother Greg McDonald in 2018 and 2019, following broad consultation. The current National Coordinator, Edwin Bakker and his committed Youth Ministry Team have, despite COVID restrictions, worked successfully with schools in engaging young people with this voluntary Faith experience. The combined efforts of the Marist Youth Ministry Team with many strongly committed, generous teachers and staff members in our schools, have opened “hearts and doors” to growing numbers of young people by “responding to the voice of the Spirit within them”. In 2020, 15 schools were actively participating in the Game Changers Programme. In 2021 we have 20 schools involved. For 2022, there are 25 schools intending to participate.

In contrast to these heartening signs of the Spirit at work, during this past week, the attention of Australians has been directed toward appalling behaviour by men and boys towards women and girls. Allegations of criminal behaviour in Parliament House, have sent shock waves around the country. Reports by literally thousands of young women of sexual abuse in their teenage years by male peers has thrown a glaring light on illegal and morally unacceptable behaviour requiring careful honest analysis, and deep reflection by parents, families and schools. Central to these crimes and wrong doings is an abandonment of respect for another person in pursuit of self satisfaction at another’s expense. As Marist educators, working in schools founded on the person of Jesus Christ, we must continue to demonstrate our commitment to the dignity of every person and strive always at every opportunity to make Jesus known and loved.