New Australian delegate for Vatican youth advisory body

Madeline Forde (ACBC)

Adelaide’s Madeline Forde has been appointed to the international youth advisory body established by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. 

Ms Forde has experience in a variety of settings, including Marist and Lasallian youth ministries, school and young adults ministry, and walking alongside First Nations people. She is currently the pastoral associate (students) at Australian Catholic University’s Blacktown campus.

The 25-year-old has facilitated national dialogue between young people and bishops at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and is also a member of the Plenary Council for the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

“I was surprised when contacted by the Dicastery and humbled by the invitation to be a part of the international youth advisory body,” Ms Forde said.

The Archbishop of Adelaide, Patrick O’Regan, expressed his joy at Ms Forde’s appointment.

“Madeline is a valued member of our community,” he said.

“She is energetic, has a preferential option to stand with the marginalised and is a strong young woman of faith. She will make an invaluable contribution as she takes on this role.”

The final document of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment recommended the establishment of an international youth advisory body. The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life established the body in 2019 and it recently gathered in Rome for the launch of the next Synod of Bishops, on the topic of synodality.

Ashleigh Donnelly was appointed as the inaugural member from Australia after playing a key role in the development of the 2018 Synod process. She stood down from the Council in early 2021