In 2018, the Catholic Church embarked on a journey of listening—an invitation from Pope Francis to hear the voices of young people through the Synod on Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment. In Australia, this call was met with openness and courage. Over 15,000 young people responded to the national survey, sharing their experiences, hopes, and concerns.
This reflection is one among many. It does not claim to speak for all, but seeks to honour the voices of young Australians and consider how we, as members of the Church and the Cardijn Community, might respond.
Listening to Young People
Young Australians are navigating a world marked by complexity. The top issues they face include mental health, school and study pressures, drugs and alcohol, body image, and relationships. Many feel disconnected—from community, from faith, and from institutions that once offered stability.
Yet, their voices are not silent. They speak of longing—for meaning, for belonging, for a Church that listens without judgement. They value spaces where they are heard, where their stories matter, and where they can encounter Christ in ways that are real and relevant.
Youth groups, liturgical gatherings, outreach programs, and events like World Youth Day offer moments of connection and transformation. These are not perfect solutions, but they are signs of hope.
A Church That Accompanies
The Synod calls the Church to be close to young people, not as experts but as companions. The Australian report echoes this: young people want to be listened to, not lectured. They want to be part of the Church’s life, not on its margins.
The survey recorded a moderate score for young people’s experience of being listened to by the Church. Positive experiences were shaped by talking to people who valued their story, the clergy’s positive attitude, and the welcoming nature of parishioners.
Negative experiences included being dismissed for being too young, judged for differing views, and encountering close-minded attitudes, especially around sexuality and gender.
A Cardijn Response
Joseph Cardijn taught us to See, Judge, Act. This method remains vital.
- See: We must see young people in their reality—not as problems to be solved, but as persons to be loved.
- Judge: We must discern together, guided by the Gospel and the lived experience of youth.
- Act: We must act with humility, creating spaces of encounter, dialogue, and shared mission.
Cardijn Community Australia, rooted in lay formation and synodality, can play a role in this journey. By fostering reflection, dialogue, and action, we can help build a Church that listens and learns.
A Gentle Invitation
Young people have asked the Church to help them with issues related to mental health, relationships, faith formation, and inclusion. They also called for better use of social media, more youth groups, and spaces where they can explore faith without fear.
This reflection is not a blueprint. It is a gentle invitation—to listen more deeply, to walk more humbly, and to trust that young people are not only the future of the Church, but its present.
May we continue to learn from them, and with them, as we seek to live the Gospel in our time.
References
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. (2017). 2018 Synod of Bishops XV Ordinary General Assembly: Young people, faith and vocational discernment – Australian report. Pastoral Research Office, Australian Catholic University.
Dantis, T., & Reid, S. (2018). Called to fullness of life and love: National report on the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Youth Survey 2017. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Pastoral Research Office.
Synod of Bishops. (2017). Preparatory document for the XV Ordinary General Assembly on “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment”. Vatican. https://secretariat.synod.va/content/synod2018/en/fede-discernimento-vocazione/preparatory-document1.html
Synod of Bishops. (2018). Instrumentum laboris: XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment”. Vatican. https://secretariat.synod.va/content/synod2018/en/fede-discernimento-vocazione/instrumentum-laboris-for-the-synod-2018–young-people–the-faith.html
Synod of Bishops. (2018). Final document of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment”. Vatican. https://secretariat.synod.va/content/synod2018/en/fede-discernimento-vocazione/final-document-of-the-synod-of-bishops-on-young-people–faith-an.html
Francis. (2019). Christus vivit: Post-synodal apostolic exhortation to young people and to the entire people of God. Vatican. https://secretariat.synod.va/content/synod2018/en/fede-discernimento-vocazione/-christus-vivit—post-synodal-exhortation-to-young-people-and-t.html