Now

The theme underlying the celebration of 200 years of Catholic Education is ‘faith in the future’. But, what does it mean to celebrate faith in the future? 

Pope Francis urges the Church to acknowledge youth and young adults as the “Church of now”. A statement in the Plenary Council Working Document, distilled from the submissions of young people, articulates it perfectly, “[Young People] not only want to be accompanied by the Church, but also want to accompany the Church on its journey, hoping that their contributions can influence growth and change” (Instrumentum Laboris, 58).

When you hear the phrase ‘faith in the future’ what do you think about? Perhaps a hopeful yearning that young people will be established in faith long into the future. Or, a celebration of how Catholic school students, guided by a framework of Catholic values, will benefit the world. The students in our care are the future, but they are also the present. Young people's infectious enthusiasm, hope and desire for greatness has played an integral part in the Catholic Church over the centuries and if given a renewed chance to flourish, their faith will ignite the Church that leads us into tomorrow. 

The time is now. Like the disciples gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, invite the Holy Spirit to centre you in the gift of the present. Today our Church can be reinvigorated and become an example of reconciliation as The Spirit continues to guide us and unify us.