In July 2020, the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry (BCELM) and the National Centre for Evangelisation (NCE) invited the NCPR to investigate the impact of large youth events, particularly the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF).
Research Objectives
The main purpose of this exploratory study was to uncover information on the long-term impact on participants, particularly in areas of faith, vocation and leadership. The research also endeavoured to capture insights from the profile of ACYF participants and highlight other reported influences on young people through these events.
The study aimed to answer the following key questions:
1) Who participates in the ACYF, and what are some of the immediate experiences of participants attending the event?
2) What evidence is there of the long-term impact of large youth events on spirituality and growth in faith?
3) What evidence is there of the impact of large youth events on vocational calling and forming youth leaders?
4) What are some other research findings on the influence of large youth events on individuals or parishes?
Methodology
The methodology for this study involved secondary research – analysing existing data from several sources to support research conclusions. Data analysis was done using MS Excel and NVivo. The first data source was registration data and participant and youth leader feedback from the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Australian Catholic Youth festivals, including participant testimonies and evaluation responses. A second source of data was information collected from five research projects that included:
- Plenary Council 2020 Phase 1: Listening and Dialogue
- The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Youth Survey
- Understanding Religious Vocation in Australia Today
- Building Stronger Parishes, and
- The National Church Life Survey (2011 and 2016)
Report and Outcomes
The research found that a major consequence for young people participating in large Catholic youth festivals, like the ACYF, was a reported growth in faith. Attendees whose faith practice had drifted found that the ACYF helped them re-engage with their Catholic faith. Youth leaders and teachers also witnessed a growth in faith in the young festivalgoers. Some participants also reported that attending ACYF led to a call to leadership, including returning to the ACYF as a youth group leader. There was also a connection made between large Catholic youth festivals and the potential impact on vocation, similar to what has been reported at other large Catholic youth festivals.
A report was provided to the BCELM and the NCE in late 2020. The study’s findings assisted the BCELM’s discussions in understanding the potential impact of ACYF events and identifying potential questions for future research on examining in greater detail the long-term impact of the festival on the lives of participants. The research informed future decision-making regarding the organisation and purpose of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and identified areas of change to maximise its potential to be a place where young people can encounter God, deepen their faith and celebrate the vitality of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Report details: Trudy Dantis, Stephen Reid, Paul Bowell and Leith Dudfield, Review of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival: A Report to the National Centre for Evangelisation (Canberra, ACT: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, October 2020).