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COMPASSand are presented with a smorgasbord of‘spiritualities’.Like their elders Generation Y are oftensecular humanists (31%). The percentage ofthe whole population that attends religiousservices at least monthly has dropped from39% in 1960 to 20% in 1998, consequentlythe majority of Generation Y have not lived ina context of frequent church attendance.A large proportion of Generation Y havelittle appreciation and indeed, a diminishingappreciation, of transcendence of any kind.They make their own choices, do things theirway, believe and do what they choose and considerit to be no business of anybody else aslong as they are not hurting anyone. Many seelittle truth in any religion. They rely purely onfriendship networks which they find or makefor themselves.Generation Y, we might say, as we readabout these findings, are the new Australia.One feels like calling it the Brave New Australia.It is a depressing scene for Christianswho know that there is so much more to lifeand reality than this representative generationof Australians believes. In the words of theopening prayer for the Twentieth Week in Ordinarytime, after praying:…that the love of Godmay raise us beyond what we seeto the unseen glory of his kingdom.…we pray:God our Father,May we love you in all things and above allthingsAnd reach the joy you have prepared for usBeyond all our imagining.We are called to tell them, all these pre-Christians and once-were-Christians, aboutthe gift of God, how Wisdom is spreading afeast and we are all invited. We are to tellthem about the goodness of God that is beyondand above our wildest dreams, that Godis offering us something that is very importantand necessary, something sublime. It isnot something anyone can afford to be offhandedabout.We need to tell them that they are called tojoin us in the People of God, called together—ecclesia, ‘church’ means ‘called—to form acommunity that is God’s creation. We are nota free association of people finding our ownsupport networks; we are answering an invitationand allowing ourselves to be led by theSpirit of God to belong to God’s own People,for our benefit and completeness.We need good communication skills sincewe have such a great message to share.—Barry Brundell MSC, EditorIn my preparations for a parish event at the end of this year Icame to the conclusion that we need a Parish CommunicationsCommittee. The bishop’s pastoral Go Tell Everyone refers usto a helpful Parish Media Kit. See: www.acbc.catholic.org.au/documents/200503064.pdf.22006Main pages.p6528/31/2006, 1:43 PM