Young Pilgrims: in Search of Treasure Ancient And
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COMPASS become involved in an immersion pro- search projects in direct response to the new gram and attend the Tantur spirituality evangelisation agenda. program in Jerusalem each year. YOUNG PILGRIMS • Revising the current Accreditation pro- Conclusion gram to introduce provisional accredi- tation for newly appointed RE teachers Restoring the city of Venice is a never-ending In Search of Treasure Ancient and New and leaders. story; the advances in technology and human ANTHONY CLEARY • The appointment of jointly funded and ingenuity are being constantly pitted against shared School/Parish Pastoral Associates. the eroding influence of climate change and human indifference. Similarly Catholic schools HE RECENT beatification of the late lieved that they were in fact yearning for the Beyond 2011: Other Strategic Priorities in Tasmania need to be totally committed to Pope John Paul II provides an oppor- transcendent and desiring a relationship with an ongoing process of School Improvement tunity to once again reflect, not just on God. The Catholic Education system in Tasmania that has at its centre the constant strengthen- T his own personal witness to the Gospel, but In April 1984 over 300,000 young people recognises that the Call to New Evangelisa- ing and revitalisation of the pillars and struc- on the very nature and significance of his pon- descended upon Rome in response to an invi- tion project is simply work ‘in-progress’. tures that underpin a vibrant Catholic ethos. tificate. tation from the Pope to come to the eternal Many other supporting beams need to be de- The challenge of new evangelisation requires In light of his regular and extensive trav- city for a youth jubilee to mark the end of the veloped in order to strengthen and reaffirm the a heightened awareness on the part of Catho- els John Paul II was often described as the Holy Year of Redemption. The magnitude of Catholic identity of the school communities. lic schools that they now minister within a very ‘Pilgrim Pope’. He was acutely aware of the the response, and the euphoria and solidarity At the time of writing a variety of further is- different and rapidly changing social milieu. contemporary revival of the ancient practice of the young people shocked both civil and sues are under consideration. Major initiatives If the beauty and richness of Catholic Educa- of pilgrimage, especially amongst the young, religious authorities alike. The occasion was include: investigating parish based child-care tion is to be sustained it is simply not suffi- and he saw it as a source of deep spiritual sig- enormously satisfying for the pope, who had provision in disadvantaged areas; strengthen- cient to ‘paint over the cracks’. Rather schools nificance. At Santiago de Compostela (1989), a longstanding trust in and conviction about ing formation programs for School Boards and system authorities need to periodically ‘lift which over the centuries has drawn countless the religious commitment and potential of particularly with respect to Catholic ethos; up the building’, strengthen the enduring foun- thousands of Christian pilgrims along the El young people. He remarked: developing a Charter for Parents which focuses dations and insert innovative scaffolding that Camino Way, he implored young people to What a marvelous spectacle this assembly on the tripartite relationship between parish, is responsive to the mission of evangelisation experience pilgrimage ‘as a way to interior makes. Who says the youth of today have lost school and families; and supporting action re- in a contemporary world. renewal, to a deepening of faith, a strengthen- their sense of value? Well, I say that the experi- ing of the sense of communion and solidarity REFERENCES ence of these days—a great and consoling ex- with your brothers and sisters and as a help in perience of solidarity, fraternity and courage in Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland. lications. discovering your personal vocation.’ the open profession of faith—is already in it- (1983) The Code of Canon Law in English Trans- Holohan, G.J. (1999) Australian Religious Educa- An initiative of the late Pope, World Youth self an answer to these questions and a nega- lation. Sydney, NSW: Collins Liturgical Publica- tion – Facing the Challenges, Canberra, ACT: tion of these doubts. tions. National Catholic Education Commission. Day is underpinned by the ancient practice Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (1997) Catechism of the John Paul II (2001a) Novo millennio ineunte. of pilgrimage and since its very inception par- It was from the Youth Jubilee, aptly titled Catholic Church (2nded.). Homebush, NSW: St Strathfield, NSW: St Paul’s Publications. ticipants have been described as pilgrims. It ‘Festival of Hope’, that the vision of World Youth Paul’s Publications. John Paul II (1991) Redemptor missio. Homebush, has become the largest regular gathering of Day was born. In a very real sense the birth of Congregation for Catholic Education (2007) The NSW: St Paul’s Publications. young people in the world. In pioneering the World Youth Day coincided with the birth of the Holy See’s Teaching on Catholic Schools. (Aus- Paul VI (1976) Evangelii Nuntiandi. Homebush, concept of World Youth Day, Pope John Paul ‘new evangelisation’, a concept which accord- tralian Edition). Strathfield, NSW: St Paul’s Pub- NSW: St Paul’s Publications. II was extremely mindful of St Augustine’s ing to Rymarz (2010, p.24) was to become a leit- NOTES words, ‘You have made us for yourself, O motif of John Paul II’s pontificate. A year earlier 1 The theological reflections developed by Mrs ritory, even those established or directed by mem- God, and our hearts are restless until they find the Pope had urged Church leaders to Helen Healy (Head of Mission & RE) and Dr bers of religious institutes. He also has the right their rest in you’ (Confessions, Chapter 1), reconceptualise and renew their approaches to Drasko Dizdar (‘Theologian in Residence’) are to issue directives concerning the general regula- and their particular relevance to young peo- evangelization, believing that a commitment to particularly acknowledged and have been incorpo- tion of Catholic schools; those directives apply also ple. Despite a plethora of research to suggest renewal was vitally necessary, especially in light rated within this paper. to schools conducted by members of a religious that a growing number were abandoning ‘in- of changing social and cultural contexts and 2 Canon 806: The diocesan Bishop has the right to institute, although they retain their autonomy in stitutional religion’, rejecting the core prin- growing indifference to the Gospel message. In watch over and inspect Catholic schools in his ter- the internal management of their schools. ciples and teachings of religious traditions order to respond adequately to the emerging chal- Reprinted with permission from Anne Benjamin and Dan Riley (eds.), (2008) and questioning the existence of God, he be- lenges and to be truly effective in her missionary Catholic Schools. Hope in Uncertain Times, John Garratt Publishing. 18 19 Compass # 2 2011 text.indd 19 2/06/2011 3:57:47 PM COMPASS activity the Church required an evangelization Anthony Cleary is the which was to be ‘new in its ardour, its methods Director of Religious and its expression.’ Education and John Paul II was acutely aware that a reju- Evangelisation for the venation of faith and Christian identity within Catholic Education western societies like Australia was largely Office, Sydney. Anthony is currently researching dependent upon the Church’s capacity to reach the impact of World out to and actively engage young people in Youth Day on young the life of the Church. His view was that they Australians as the were especially vulnerable to becoming de- subject of doctoral tached from the Gospel message, and becom- studies. ing absorbed into a cultural milieu which was increasingly indifferent, and at times hostile, While some of the international gatherings to Christian life and values. To this end he saw have been held in cities which are renowned that renewed enthusiasm and innovation was places of pilgrimage (Santiago de Compostela required to attract and engage young people, 1989, Czestochowa 1991, Rome 2000) other and offset the prevailing culture. The World World Youth Days have been conducted in Youth Day phenomenon epitomizes the modern cities with no obvious religious ap- Church’s efforts for the ‘new evangelisation’. peal (Denver 1993, Toronto 2002, Sydney It is unprecedented and unparalleled as an 2008). Irrespective of it being a place of the approach to young people in its energy, inno- sacred or the secular, hundreds of thousands vation and dynamism. of young people, and on occasions several Properly understood, the ‘new evangeliza- million, have made the journey to unite as part tion’ is Christocentric in nature and purpose. of the universal Church at World Youth Day, It seeks to enable an encounter with Christ and which at its heart is a pilgrimage of faith. a deepening of relationship with him. The Despite the great distances, young Austral- Church affirms that this experience of encoun- ians have made the journey so as to be repre- ter can be the catalyst for a profound transfor- sented at every international World Youth Day. mation, especially for those who have not They have travelled as members of ecclesial closed themselves off totally from Christ groups and movements, with parishes and (Ecclesia in America # 68). schools, and with family and friends. Others While young people’s perception and im- have made the journey alone. Compared to their age of God is extremely diverse and deeply European and North American counterparts the personalized, the Church hopes that their ex- sacrifices of their pilgrimage are far greater, perience of the transcendent at World Youth especially in regard to the cost and duration of Day will be an encounter with Christ.