The need for the Church to hear the voice of young people was recently discussed at a three-day in-service course for priests at the Archbishop’s Seminary, organised together with the Malta Catholic Youth Network.

During the course the priests heard directly from youths how the latter look at the Church. The participants were addresed by a social worker, a tattoo artist, hairdressing students, a sound engineer and a Catholic youth working in a family business.

The participants explored where youths are spending their time and building their identity. They also attended focus groups led by experts on the themes of the family, education and sport, voluntary work and the online reality of social media.

The course, which was addressed among others by youth agency CEO Miriam Theuma and Fr Fabio Attard, a Salesian priest involved in youth work in Malta and abroad, was concluded by Archbishop Charles Scicluna. The theme of the course was chosen in view of the synod of bishops to be convened by Pope Francis in October, which will focus on youths.