CYMFed

Pope Francis: "My dear young people, the Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them!"

Since the start of lockdown, many have taken the opportunity to take stock. The same can be said of the Church, with many sharing their hopes, for how the Church might continue to renew and reform herself.

This contribution, from a selection of voices of those in young adulthood, hopes to give encouragement, to those trying to help the Church reach out to the peripheries.

• I hope that after lockdown, the Church will be counter-cultural, be inclusive, and be daring in its vision of hope, and change.
• My hope is for a Church that proclaims the Gospel with honesty and fearlessness.
• I hope for a Church which isn't afraid of dialogue. A Church which isn't afraid to be challenged, to learn, to adapt and to grow.
• I hope for a Church that is hospitable.
• My hope for the Church after lockdown is, that the Church continues to be at the forefront of social conversations, and is seen as an organization that really cares about society at large, and wants to engage with social discussions.
• I hope we've become a more prophetic voice, in challenging those who idealize money, at the expense of people's lives.
• My hope for the Church is, that we remember that we are so much more than a building, that we utilize all the things we've learned during lockdown, to make sure that we're better serving our community, and not just those who come to us on Sunday's, but everyone in our locality.
• I hope that after the lockdown, we feel that we are able to support those who are on the peripheries more. Those that are involved in the faith, that perhaps, do not have the community around them. The LGBT community, refugees. The people that need us, perhaps, to reach out to them the most.
• I hope for a Church where, the voices and gifts of all people are valued, respected and promoted. Especially women, young people, lay people, and all those on the margins.
• My hope for the Church after lockdown is, that She realizes that it can adapt and change its ways, and that actually the skills, voices, experience, and knowledge of young people, from all walks of life, are essential for that change to happen.
• Be a beacon of inspiration, so that when future generations look back on this time, we can always say that the Church stood on the right side of history.
• I hope for a church that is proactive and innovative, that is one step ahead of us, rather than always playing catch-up.
• I hope that as we look forward, we rethink our ways of working, and share power and responsibility, more widely.
• I hope the Church will continue to come with creative and innovative ways, to tackle the climate crisis, and to support those who are already affected by climate change.
• Continue to campaign, for the dignity and rights of all workers, particularly those in the service sector, who have served us so well, during this lockdown period.

Forming Missionary Disciples is a UK-based project that, as a response to Evangelii Gaudium, tries to help form those in the Church, of a younger generation, contribute to living the Gospel authentically in the world.