Here’s how you and your friends can participate …VATICAN CITY — The Vatican is inviting young people, parents, priests, teachers and youth ministers to visit a new interactive website in preparation for the 2018 Synod of Bishops on the theme: Young people, the Faith, and vocational discernment.
According to a statement released this morning by the Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops, the new site is designed to promote the broad, interactive participation of young people from all around the world in preparations for the Assembly.
The new site features an online questionnaire addressed to young people in various languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese) that will allow them to share and contribute their ideas and perspectives.
The questionnaire “will be of great use in the process of preparation for the Synod event,” synod organizers said, “and will be part of the extensive consultation the General Secretariat is carrying out at all levels of the people of God.”
Responses to the online questionnaire must be submitted by November 30, 2017.
The new site will be live on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at the following address: youth.synod2018.va.
“Make your voice heard”
In his letter to young people, when the preparatory document for the 2018 Synod was presented at the Vatican, Pope Francis said: “The Church also wishes to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith; even your doubts and your criticism.”
“Make your voice heard,” he told youth. “Let it resonate in communities and let it be heard by your shepherds of souls. St. Benedict urged the abbots to consult, even the young, before any important decision, because ‘the Lord often reveals to the younger what is best.’ (Rule of St. Benedict, III, 3).”
On the journey of this Synod, the pope told young people, “my brother bishops and I want even more to ‘work with you for your joy’ (2 Cor 1:24). I entrust you to Mary of Nazareth, a young person like yourselves, whom God beheld lovingly, so she might take your hand and guide you to the joy of fully and generously responding to God’s call with the words: ‘Here I am’ (cf. Lk 1:38).”
