KCP - Catholic Diocese of Broome

World Youth Day is a celebration for young people, an opportunity to rally together bridging the cultural and linguistic divide, discovering commonalities united in Christ and hopeful for the future.
Because of these wonderful aspects of World Youth Day successive Popes have encouraged nations from every continent to participate. The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has been active in animating youth to attend as has the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC). In this particular Diocese I have especially asked that parishes nominate at least two delegates each and support them in their quest to attend the gathering in Cologne this year. Happily, most parishes have worked hard to see this happen. It is strikingly noticeable that the more authentically active a parish is the greater the participation in the World Youth event. I am sure it is no coincidence.
Today’s Church in the Kimberley is something of a youthful celebration itself. Many Catholics are only first or second generation Christians so that the Church in the Broome Diocese is indeed a remarkably young institution. Demographically, the majority of our faithful are what you would call young. And quite obviously they are continually searching for a vibrant faith experience that will sustain them in a materialistic and facile world.
In this context it is necessary that our parishes reflect an energetic and enthusiastic attitude towards preaching and living out the Gospel values. The place of traditional devotional practices in each location needs to be examined closely. Our commitment to the Christian life ought to be plainly demonstrable.
Long gone are the days when any one in ministry can sit with impunity, waiting for people to arrive at their doorstep. Over and done with are the expectations of parents that they can leave the matter of faith education solely to the Catholic school. Programs for useful formation in faith for our adult Christians are unquestionably essential. A merely passive presence of the Church within any community is a tiresome model of a faith reminiscent of “old wine skins” and a redundant theology.
Next year, I wish to initiate a General Assembly of the Diocese. The details of which we will work on this year. I am hopeful that there will be a substantial representation from each parish and each institution within parishes. The object of the exercise will be to achieve a sound sense of solidarity in faith.
Without a significant presence of youth at the two or three day event our assembly will be incomplete and impoverished. Quite obviously the time to prepare is now. It is my hope that our young church will be capable of positive self analysis, determined to capture an enthusiasm for ‘the good news’ and readily committed to be alive in Christ.