Young people bring something irreplaceable to any community. Curiosity. Courage. Imagination. A refusal to settle for “the way things have always been.” They ask the big and sometimes difficult questions. They look for meaning and purpose. They want their contribution to count.  

For us, youth engagement is not an optional extra; it is a strategic commitment grounded in a simple belief: the future strength of our broader community and the Church depend on how well we invest in young people today.   

This belief is shaping the way we support and journey with young people across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.  We are committed to walking alongside young people with purpose and creating spaces where they can encounter Christ in a real and life-giving way. We believe the future of the Church is not something distant or abstract. It is already present in the hearts of our young people.  

Pope Francis captured this sentiment beautifully when he said, “We cannot just say that young people are the future … they are its present; even now, they are helping to enrich it.”  

In 2025, almost 100 young people from across the Diocese travelled to Melbourne for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, joining thousands of others from around Australia. What stood out was not just the scale of the event, but the depth of desire behind it. Young people are searching for belonging. They are seeking direction. They are looking for spaces where their voices are heard and their gifts are recognised.  

When they are given that space, something shifts. Confidence grows. Friendships deepen. Leadership begins to emerge. Relationships with God are strengthened.  

Many young people need reassurance that they matter. They need environments where their value is recognised and nurtured. They need mentors who listen. They need opportunities to contribute. They need to be empowered to be ALIVE!  

Our Diocese hopes to provide opportunities that inspire growth and empower resilient, thoughtful and compassionate leaders; and to build communities where young people know they belong and are confident that they are seen and loved. We want to walk alongside them, supporting them to become alive, courageous and forward-looking.  

Parents, grandparents, teachers and community leaders all have a role to play. Investing in young people requires time, resources and trust. It means believing that when young people are given responsibility and genuine influence, they will rise to it.  

In the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, that investment is underway with the launch of ALIVE Catholic Youth - a clear, visible home for young people in the Diocese, designed to provide fun, inspiring, consistent and engaging pathways for connection and growth.  

In 2026, a number of events and initiatives are underway to support this commitment. They include:  

• Annual retreats that act as anchor points in the year, offering young people space to step back, build authentic friendships, and be emboldened to step out and change the world.  

• Ongoing spaces to experience community and connection with others.  

• Leadership opportunities that empower young people.  

• Outreach beyond schools and parishes, offering hope to those whose faith journey may have been challenging.  

We can’t wait to bring you on the journey with us. Our Diocese has so many opportunities this year for our youth to grow and prosper. Keep an eye out for announcements next month.  

“We understand that seasons come and go quickly in the life of a young person. Our hope and prayer is that every young person in this Diocese can hear the Gospel proclaimed to them: that God loves them, that Christ died and rose again for them, and that they are called to a life of more with Him,” Dominic Drumore, of the Diocese’s Youth Ministry in the Mission and Evangelisation, is hopeful for what lies ahead. 

“Please pray for us, and for the Church, that we may be a home and a safe place where young people can truly be ALIVE!”  

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