YOUTH MATTERS: The world outside your window: The exciting adventure on offer
By Darcy Rogers, Director of Youth Evangelisation
Most of our day exists from inside. We start our morning with private prayer, sometimes not seeing the light of day whilst either working, studying, or tending to family, retiring to our homes for rest.
In my short time living in Tassie, I have witnessed how winter can be a time of internal trial, particularly for our younger people. Generation Z (1995-2009) and Generation Alpha (2010-2024) have been significantly affected by mental health and loneliness issues.
Research from McCrindle found the biggest impacts of social isolation for this demographic is boredom (51 percent), decreased levels of physical activity (47 percent), and increased levels of loneliness (41 percent).
Pilgrimage seems like a positive response to these findings. Let’s take the upcoming Archdiocesan pilgrimage to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) as an example. The events are fun and spiritually engaging, involving high levels of daily movement (pilgrimage walk), all whilst with being in a communal and relatable group.
The most essential part of pilgrimage is listening to the voice of God. He is in the journey we take, the revelation or maybe the waiting we experience. God draws our human awareness to the fact that an infinite loving Father holds centrality in the person before us.
Another aspect of the journey is understanding more of what we have been given through our baptism and confirmation, and how to bring that to life through Jesus’s example, the mission of the Church. We have been given many talents, the Lord calls us to nurture these into gift for the sake of the Church, and the souls he wants to reclaim.
I recall hearing an Instagram reel the other day explaining that our mental health is at its worst when we keep the focus of our life on ourselves and not others.
St Marie Eugenie De Jesus gives us an alternative focus, “Transform everything into praise and thanksgiving”, when we not only give back the gifts God has given us through service but also adopt thankfulness and gratitude, the journey becomes lighter.
“Love never says I have done enough” (St Marie Eugenie De Jesus). The Lord isn’t finished working and aligning our will to his. In times of weariness we are called into his deep rest: “Come all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).
The Youth Office would love to offer you or someone you think would truly benefit the opportunity to express interest to ACYF 2025. A chance to strengthen and encourage our personal faith life, and to embrace the true joy of being on mission with Christ.
“It’s not time to be silent, don’t you dare hide your light, there’s a world outside your window, so don’t let it pass you by” (Hillsong Young and Free).
Peace be with you all.