Youth Ministry

Christ leads, youth boldly follow

The General Secretariat of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE-GS) carries out the mandates and responsibilities entrusted to it by the Bishops’ Conference. The Church’s mission encompasses both pastoral engagement and the promotion of integral human development, achieved through its coordinated pastoral and social development programs.

Within this framework, the National Youth Office was established under the Pastoral Coordination Office through the initiative of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia. Its core mission is to coordinate the work of Diocesan Youth Offices and Apostolic Ministries at the national level, operating under the mandate of the CBCE-GS.

The Youth and Children Ministry of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, functioning under the Pastoral Coordination Office (CBCE-GS-PCO), is guided by the Church’s vision and mission, and inspired by the Gospel values of our Lord Jesus Christ. This ministry is responsible for implementing national pastoral programs as directed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia.

The Ministry remains dedicated to supporting the Church’s mission by facilitating various pastoral activities. This includes offering ongoing formation and training programs for pastoral agents working closely with youth across the 13 Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions. Additionally, the Ministry provides essential teaching and resource materials to strengthen the effectiveness of pastoral outreach. It is also tasked with translating religious texts, Church documents, and papal encyclicals into selected local languages to ensure broader accessibility.

The essence of Catholic youth ministry is captured in the following definition, which reflects both our mission and identity as a Church community:

“Youth ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community.”