Resources To Explore Synod And Christus Vivit

Resources To Explore Synod And Christus Vivit

New resources created by young adults unpackage the Synod Final Document and Pope Francis's exhortation, and offer reflections for youth workers.

Just a week after the Pope released Christus Vivit, his exhortation putting the young at the heart of his vision for the renewal of the Church, a group of young adults launched a project to help this become a reality in England and Wales. Synod Fruits, from the Forming Missionary Disciples team, presents a range of resources and information to help young people get to the heart of the Synod and its fruits. Chris Knowles, Adam O'Boyle and Phil Callaghan aim to continue the Synod process by bringing it to life in our local communities – and maintaining the centrality of young adults.

Synod Fruits has resources available, is offering workshops and working in partnership with others to help ensure 'Christ is alive!' doesn't remain an interesting text on the shelf next to the others, but something we can see and experience in our parishes and schools. Resources are online at www.synodfruits.org.uk

"We're most excited about our guide to Christus Vivit," Phil said, "and there are a variety of resources, with more coming in the future, to help people in all kinds of contexts engage with the ideas from the Synod."

Project Coordinator Chris Knowles, said that they "started this project because we think that young adults have so much to offer the Church and to help it preach the Gospel in our modern world, but too often there aren't the opportunities. We've already started delivering workshops on the Synod, and it's really exciting to help people see what implementing it could look like in their context."

Fr David O'Malley SDB, a Salesian priest, said Synod Fruits was offering "great resources for all those who are wanting to discover what it means to accompany young people to help them realise their full potential. It's exciting to see young people leading the way in this project; I think it's exactly the kind of initiative Pope Francis hoped for when he called the Synod on youth."

In addition to the study guide to Christus Vivit and a guide to the Synod's Final Document, downloadable resources already on the website include two sets of reflections from the Synod for those working with young people, and a series of posters. Coming soon are booklets exploring Pope Francis' direct addresses to young people and to young adults, resources for younth ministry and prayer cards based on the young saints Francis refers to in Christus Vivit. The group also takes workshops out to help people explore the Synod issues.

Funding permitting, the team plans to create a series of resources for lessons and youth groups, and a collection of videos and animations.

Take a look at the website: www.synodfruits.org.uk