Coming into 2021, youth ministry groups across the many Parishes in the Archdiocese of Adelaide had an attitude of being prepared for the potential challenges COVID could bring, but at the same time hoping for a better year to run their ministry. Although there have been many challengers in 2021, there have also been many successes despite COVID-19. Some new youth ministry initiatives have started while other existing initiatives continue to thrive in parishes and communities as youth leaders support young people in their journey of faith.

In my role as Coordinator of the Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults I am often a guest at Parish Pastoral Council meetings, school boards, and many faith groups and diocesan agencies. I am usually there to listen and offer advice on pastoral ministry with young people. Inevitably someone in the meeting will ask a question like, “Where are the young people anyway? How do we get them to come back to church?” Or if they are a really despairing individual, they will say, “We’ve already tried youth ministry, it’s a lost cause. We need to focus our attention and resources on those who show up on Sundays.” Both responses are completely legitimate reactions to the absence of young people from Sunday worship, but they are misinformed.