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Diocesan Youth Commission

Dated as early as 1994, the Catholic Dioceses of Hong Kong identified the important values in developing youth ministry; thus, a commission was instituted to study the needs and the opinions of the young Catholics from different walks of life. In views of further developing youth ministry, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong officially established the Diocesan Youth Commission and the office in 1995.

Vision

We believe that every Catholic youth is indeed a follower of Christ, of whom god’s grace has been bestowed upon. In response to their vocational call, these young people strive to put Christ in the center of their lives all within the same community of solidarity, their personality and faith formation mature, and they will eventually become passionate and ingenious Gospel evangelists.

Mission

The Hong Kong Catholic Church, together with the young people, is committed to establish a democratic, a loving, and a forgiving community. From the Word of the Lord and the catechism, to the prayers and the celebration of religious ceremonies, these young people continue to be acquainted with Christ and to build a relationship with God. They mature by their dedicated servicing within the community, setting their personal goals upon the Gospel values, respecting and appreciating individual gifts and talents, bearing upon their familial, social cultural, and civil responsibilities, promoting righteousness, caring for the weak, respecting for life, and proclaiming the message of love.

The Diocesan Youth Commission is determined to promote pastoral services for youths in Hong Kong, build the local and the universal Church, foster young pastoral workers, support and develop Christian communities. Furthermore, when seeking and achieving the mutual goals in promoting such youth pastoral services, the Diocesan Youth Commission will also liaise and cooperate with various youth organizations, parishes, schools and committees, in order to actualize their common mission.

Diocesan Youth Commission
The 6th Committee (2005 – 2007)
Structure

a. Diocesan Structure

The DYC is in charge of formulating the strategic plan for the long-term development of the youth ministry for the Hong Kong Diocese and devising the working plan in the medium term (about 2 years). Whilst the DYC office is responsible for actualizing and implementing the working plan determined by the DYC.

The DYC office is primarily responsible for actualizing the strategic plan and executing the working plan determined by the DYC. The DYC office is led by one Executive Secretary, who is assisted by four officers and one clerk at present. The officers are in charge of pastoral works in various areas, namely (1) pastoral work for deanery and parishes; (2) pastoral work for local Catholic schools focusing on secondary schools, as well as, provision of supportive service to school pastoral workers; (3) publication pertaining to youth formation and youth ministry; (4) organizational work and formation for large scale activities for example World Youth Day and Asian Youth Day. Whilst the research & development division is handled by the Executive Secretary.

Regular Diocesan Youth Ministry Programmes and Activities

Referring to the youth ministry programmes of the DYC, the regular activities carried out are as follows:

• Supporting youth ministry pastoral work and providing formation program for youth leaders and youth ministers in the parishes.
• Co-operating with local Catholic schools and organizing formation program for the students, particularly the student leaders of Catholic Society;
• Provision of supportive service to the Catholic school pastoral workers, including providing the materials of formation program for the students, arranging training course and workshops and seminars for the school pastoral workers;
• Publishing newsletters and materials for the youth leaders and ministers;
• Forming ad-hoc committee for establishing the Hong Kong Delegates for World Youth Day and Asian Youth Day, as well as, organizing the formation for the Hong Kong Delegates.
• Developing a comprehensive Web site for youth ministry.