.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Responding to the ‘now of God’

The past 18 months provided many graces to the Church in Australia through its young people. The Year of Youth has shown how the vision and talents of young people can accompany the Church not in the future, but right now. This shone through in the General Synod and its final document, as well as in the words of Pope Francis at the closing mass of WYD19 Panama:
 
"You, dear young people, are not the future, but the now of God"
 
 Now, as we head in to 2019, young people and those who minister with them, are called to stand up and make their contributions to lead the Church into the future. There are a number of opportunities to do this already underway: The Australian Bishops Plenary Council listening and dialogue process which concludes in a matter of weeks; engaging with the final document of the General Synod; as well as formation and preparation for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.
 
 We are excited to announce the new website for the  fourth Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is now live and the promotional video launched at the Aussie Gathering in Panama is also now available to you. This includes a personal invitation from Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth and Chairperson of the Plenary Council 2020. 
 
 It is a special and unique moment in the life of the Church and its young people. I look forward to exploring it with many of young during the year.

Malcolm Hart
Director, Office for Youth