Several Catholic youth groups, initiatives and movements have come together in the newly formed “Youth for the Church” network. The association currently includes 13 groups for a total of about 6,800 adolescents and young adults. “Youth for the Church” was founded by seven young Catholics, including the press spokesperson for the Diocese of Görlitz, Johann Wagner, and the spokesperson for the New Evangelisation in the Diocese of Passau, Rebekka Bischoff. The initiative brings together male and female youth groups from the Schoenstatt movement in Germany, the Youth of Charismatic Renewal, the Maltese Youth Community, and the Diocesan Association of the German Catholic Youth Federation (BDKJ) in Görlitz. The mission statement on the “Jugend für Kirche” website reads: “Youth for the Church is a network of communities, movements, initiatives and groups of young Catholic Christians on a German scale. We witness that young people today follow Jesus in great spiritual diversity, love and loyalty to Christ and his Church. We want to enrich each other spiritually and practically, and live a Christian culture of mutual appreciation. Our personal relationship with God and the Catholic Church’s teachings are our foundation and guidance”. The goal is to gather and network with various regional and national youth groups and pass on experiences to the outside world. “In this way, we want to help shape the public image of young Catholics in Germany”, said Lukas Golla, spokesperson for the movement.