New projects to empower Catholic youth launched by Million Minutes

Million Minutes celebrated its 15th anniversary by launching two new initiatives to support youth leadership in the Catholic Church.

Million Minutes, a Catholic charity aimed at empowering young people, marked its 15th anniversary with an event on 30 January at FCJ (Faithful Companions of Jesus) House, London, where the new projects were launched.

The new “Safe Spaces Youth Project” will support parishes to create welcoming environments for young people, and a leadership programme called “Agents of Change” will train young people to be faith-rooted “peace and justice leaders”.

Kate Wilkinson, the chief executive officer of Million Minutes, told The Tablet: “Since its launch in 2011, Million Minutes has been working tirelessly to create a world and a Church where young people are heard, supported, and inspired to take transformative social action rooted in Catholic social teaching. There is so much to give thanks for over the last fifteen years.”

The event brought together supporters and trustees to reflect on the previous 15 years and to share the charity’s vision for the future. Wilkinson pointed to Million Minutes’ impact, such as the Adventurous Accompaniment programme. Supported by The Benedictines, The Jesuits in Britain, and Synod Fruits, this programme has guided around 300 people across Catholic communities in England and Wales with the “art of accompaniment”. 

During a speech, Wilkinson said “communities have been changed” because of Million Minutes’ specific approach, adding: “Again and again, we have seen that when young people are listened to, something shifts, not only for them, but for the adults who accompany them and the Church itself.”

Looking forward, Wilkinson underlined the importance of synodality and listening to young people. She said: “If synodality is about walking together, then young people cannot remain at the edges of the journey. As the late Pope Francis reminded us, young people are not the future of the Church, they are the now.”  

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