This gathering will help to inform the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment which will take place in October this year.
The voice of many
As a member of the Chaldean Catholic community, Angela is ready to take on her responsibility and speak on behalf of young people and ensure the Catholic Church in Australia is heard during her time at the Vatican.
“Pope Francis has encouraged the Synod of Bishops to ‘go beyond what is familiar and known in order to encourage discussion’, and that discussion will be enriched by the views of many young people in Australia who wanted to raise their voices,” said Angela.
Angela will share the thoughts and opinions of more than 15,000 young Australians who filled out the National Youth Synod Survey about the place of faith and Church in their lives.
Words of encouragement
To garner the support of many in the Catholic community, Angela met with members of the Australian Catholic Youth Council to share the story of her faith and the faith of her Chaldean Catholic community.
The 22-year-old has been encouraged to ‘be yourself’ and let her life experience guide her as she engages with Church leaders and other young people during the gathering.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Mark Edward OMI, who will be attending the Synod of Bishops in October, along with Malcolm Hart, Director of ACBC Office for Youth, have passed on their support and prayers to Angela.
‘As the representative of young Australians, it is important for Angela to take with her the hopes and aspirations of her fellow Catholics, but that should be done in a way that conceals her own experience, said Malcolm.
Ashleigh Green, who also attended the Youth Council meeting and recently was a part of a gathering of Young Catholics in Rome, has prepared Angela to speak open and honestly about the thoughts and feelings expressed by the youth of Australia about the place of faith in their lives.