YOUNG MEN OF GOD: A Call, a Brotherhood, a Renewal.

Fr Terrence Shanaka MGL
Apr 15
2 min read

The Young Men of God (YMG) movement was not born from a strategy or a program. It was born from prayer, listening, and a quiet but powerful call from God.

In the Jubilee Year 2000, while praying in Assisi in the small church where St Francis and his brothers once lived and poured out their lives for Christ, Fr Ken Barker MGL sensed something stirring in his heart.

In that holy place, the Lord impressed on him a deep desire: that young men would rise up again in the Church.

The Lord’s call was clear.

Young men were being invited to live with deep faith, purity of heart, and strength of character; to become men who would lead not by power, but by holiness, truth, and love.

The Lord wanted young men to know that their past does not define them, that change is possible, and that in Christ they can truly be made new.

Today, YMG is under the pastoral care of the

Missionaries of God's Love (MGL), with Fr Terrence Shanaka MGL serving as the chaplain of the movement. With renewed vision and strong spiritual foundations, YMG continues to grow, quietly, faithfully, and fruitfully.

A Living Brotherhood, YMG is now active in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Canberra, with new foundations beginning in Perth in 2026, and international growth already underway in Manila, Philippines.

In every location, young men gather regularly:

for monthly faith formation, rooted in Scripture, prayer, and honest discipleship
and for monthly social gatherings, where brotherhood is built through shared life, laughter, sport, and friendship

This rhythm reflects what YMG believes deeply: men do not grow alone. Transformation happens in brotherhood.

YMG had a great opportunity to bring its movement to young people at the Australian Catholic Festival 2025.

At our stall, we invited young men to be part of the men’s ministry. We also ran a push-up competition, which attracted many men and encouraged them to take part in the challenge.

At the beginning of 2026, the Melbourne Summer School had a strong YMG presence. This helped many men to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus.