“Jesus entrusted his Church to young people; His twelve disciples were all under thirty,” says Youth Ministry Team Leader Claire Spinelli. “Today, he is still trusting young people with his Church, and it is fundamental that they recognise that. The Sandhurst Youth Ministry Team (SYM) wants to empower the young to live their faith boldly and know that they are trusted to step up in our community of Faith as intentional and missionary disciples of Jesus.
Following the energy of last year’s pilgrimage to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), SYM has embraced an unofficial theme for 2026: From Encounter to Intentional Discipleship. On 13 March, the Team hosted a gathering in Shepparton, attended mainly by ACYF pilgrims and their leaders. The event recognised that ACYF should not be a “mountaintop” experience, but part of a wider journey of formation, encounter and mission.
“At ACYF, pilgrims were commissioned to go and make disciples, and so we are building on that, but we want to know how young people see that working on the ground,” says Claire. The gathering therefore, was less about outcomes and more about empowering young people to speak into the life of the Church they belong to. “We must listen and respond to what drives young people forward, what holds them back, and encourage them to see their value as we build Youth Ministry across the Diocese, not for them, but alongside them. We must make our Church in Sandhurst a community where our young people are seen, known and loved and where they, the young, are trusted to be co-responsible for mission at a local level.”
A key component of the day urged participants to consider, “When have you been trusted?” and “What does it feel like to be trusted?” Claire says the aim is simple: “We’re telling young people, ‘You are the disciples of today.’ We ask, what can Jesus trust you to do, and what can you trust yourself to do?” She emphasises, “We are not Youth Ministry for them, we are Youth Ministry with them.”
The responses provided by the participants have left SYM with several key insights into the minds, contexts, needs and desires of young people. They want to be involved. They are looking for support, formation and opportunities to lead. They are inspired by authentic relationships, shared experiences and spaces where they belong. The greatest obstacles are often social and emotional: fear of being judged, concern that faith might seem “uncool,” or a sense of unworthiness before God’s love.
The activities of the day were concluded with Mass, celebrated by ACYF Pastoral Leader, Fr Junray Rayna, and chaplains Fr Adi Indra, Fr Jackson Saunders and Fr Nathan Verallo. This celebration of the Eucharist – source and summit of our faith – was a most fitting end to our time together, with our young people participating and leading in the vibrant Liturgy.
The day’s activities affirmed the vision and model of accompaniment that the Youth Ministry Team is pursuing.
Claire expresses gratitude to all those who accompany, support and empower young people on this journey to intentional discipleship. Their presence and openness to walk alongside our young disciples on their journey is key to the work of Youth Ministry in bearing fruit.
Special thanks are extended to Youth Ministry Officer Jessan Tano, Small Group Leaders, chaplains and local schools for supporting participation. Notre Dame College generously provided the venue for the event and sincere thanks is extended to their staff and leadership for supporting this important work. Claire also acknowledged Gen Bryant and the Wavemakers Team for creating safe, engaging spaces where young people could explore their gifts, courage, and potential to “create ripples” as trusted disciples of Jesus.
Next Steps: Consultation Sessions
Sandhurst Youth Ministry will now implement opportunities and pathways informed by the voices of young people at this gathering. Consultation sessions with youth leaders are planned, and the team will work at a local level to provide formation and gathering opportunities, responding to the needs of young people across the Diocese.
