MAKE YOUR HOME WITH CHRIST

Dear young people of the Church in Australia

Peace be with you!

We encountered the joy and witness of our young Church at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne.

I have been encouraged by your enthusiasm and witness to Jesus Christ, our friend, who accompanies us along the journey of life.

We worshipped and prayed together, listened to one another, deepened our faith, and met new friends from across our great country.

I’m sure there are stories and reflections you will continue to share. By sharing our experience of God’s love with others, we participate with God in sharing His love with the world. This is the evangelising mission of the Gospel!

We now turn to our local communities, embracing our call to be missionary disciples. Let us share our joy as we prepare for World Youth Day 2027 in Korea and the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 in Sydney.

I invite all young people of Australia to make their home with Christ and to remain in Him, the true Vine (John 15:5). To remain is to dwell. As we do, we draw life from Him daily, and when we live His word, love, and Spirit, we bear fruit. When we are apart from God, we wither.

In our world wounded by division and disconnection, we can experience isolation and hopelessness. When we are at home with Christ we can overcome isolation and hopelessness because we are one with the One.

As Pope Leo XIV shared in his video message to us, “I encourage you to build networks and friendships with one another and work together to build up the Kingdom of God in your local areas.”

Friends, with this confidence in our connectedness, share your home in Christ in your friendships, families, and communities. Commit to prayer and service of others, especially those most in need. There you will discover the expansive and exciting vision for your life that God has set before you. There you will discover a life full of joy (John 15:11).

Let us abide in Christ, who is our source and life, and entrust ourselves to the maternal heart of Mary, who always leads us closer to Jesus, her Son.

In Christ, our Life and our Hope

Bishop George Kolodziej SDS DD
Delegate for Youth – Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry
Bishop of Bunbury