Over the coming 2 years, there are a lot of initiatives, events and opportunities. Below is a timeline to help guide you plan ahead with some consideration of how your community could get involved. Communities may not be able to participate in all initiatives, and must also allocate time to work locally. This is provided as a guide for planning in hope that your community can make use of the many opportunities presented by the General Synod and Year of Youth.
| Date |
Initative |
Local Community Reflections |
| 2017 | ||
|
May 24 - June 2 |
Australian Bishops Youth Survey |
How are you asking all young people to share their thoughts with the local church and the Holy Father? |
|
Release of Australian Bishops Message to Young People |
How can your community share this message, particularly to those on the peripheries? |
|
|
December 3 |
Opening of the Year of Youth |
How is your diocese or local community preparing to open the Year of Youth? |
| November/December |
Launch of a variety of Australian Pilgrimage options to WYD |
Is your community sending young people to World Youth Day Panama? Visit www.wyd.org.au |
| December 7-9 |
Australian Catholic Youth Festival |
Is your community sending youth representatives to the Youth Festival in Sydney? Visit www.acyf.org.au |
| Australian Catholic Youth Festival - Live Webcast | Can your local community host a local gathering to watch the live plenaries and events of the ACYF for those who can’t make it to Sydney? | |
| 2018 | ||
| March 25 | Palm Sunday - World Youth Day Local Celebrations | How is your community celebrating the universal church’s yearly celebration of young people? How can you share the message of Pope Francis with young people? How are you celebrating the gift of youth in your community? |
| May 20 | Pentecost – Local Message to Young People | Since WYD08 many diocese and communities have released local messages to young people on Pentecost. Will your local community speak directly to young people at this time? |
| September 18 | Close of Australian Pilgrim Bookings WYD Panama | Be sure to have yourself and those in your group registered for WYD Panama by this date. This will be a unique and epic event in Central America. |
| October TBC | Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention (ACYMC) This gathering will reflect upon the national General Synod summary and local experiences of the Year of Youth, developing a national focus into the future. |
Who coordinates youth and young adult ministry in your community? Can you support them to attend this formation event for those in ministry with young people across the church in Australia? |
| 2019 | ||
| January 22-17 | World Youth Day Panama | How is your community celebrating the universal church’s yearly celebration of young people? How can you share the message of Pope Francis with young people? How are you recognising the efforts of youth in your community? |
| World Youth Day Local Celebrations in Australia |
In what ways can your community host a local celebration of WYD in partnership with those occurring in Panama? Check out www.wyd.org.au for ideas. |