I had the gift and joy of joining the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle for the launch of ALIVE Catholic Youth last month. While it marked the beginning of a new initiative that has been in the works for a year, what I experienced was something much deeper than an event.

I witnessed young people searching for what every human person desires: a place to belong.

The deepest and most fundamental questions stir within the hearts of our young people today: Who am I? Where do I belong? What is my purpose? The challenge before the whole Church is not just about delivering programs or events, but about forming safe and flourishing communities where these questions can be held with care and responded to honestly. A place where young people can encounter and discover Christ, who is at the heart of their questions.

That is why ALIVE Catholic Youth matters.

The most encouraging part was seeing young people take ownership of their faith. Through worship, testimony, leadership and prayer, the gathering reminded us that young people are not merely recipients of ministries that we facilitate. They are protagonists in the life and mission of the Church. A panel of young people shared stories of their leadership and service as a sign of their commitment to God's call for all people to participate.

The Church has a unique invitation. In a time marked by isolation and fragmentation, we can become places of belonging. In a world desiring clarity about human identity, we can proclaim the dignity of every person. In a society desperate for purpose, we can invite young people into a mission larger than themselves.

What I experienced at ALIVE was a glimpse of that hope.

The future of youth ministry will not be built through events alone. As Pope Francis so often reminded us, it will be built through relationships and accompaniment. If ALIVE Catholic Youth continues to be this kind of welcoming and encouraging community, it will become much more than a ministry initiative. It will become a community of young people who know they belong, know they are loved, and know they are needed in the renewal of the Church.

That is a future worth prioritising, and reflecting on what I witnessed, I believe it has already begun.

Images and Words: Qwayne Guevara