In October of next year, the next synod of bishops will take place. Its theme will be “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment.”

The focus on young people in the Church is most welcome. It is often commented that the number of young people who either fall away from the practice of their faith or lose it completely as they approach adulthood is notable and very worrisome. That is true not only for Catholic youth, but for young people of other denominations and faiths as well.

We are living in a time when it is very challenging for young people to integrate faith and belief into daily life in our culture and society. A recent study from Notre Dame University once again confirms the difficulties encountered by young people.

In particular, the study notes that for Catholic young people, the pluralism of society, especially the religious pluralism in the United States, is very influential. Because there is so much pluralism on so many issues, not simply those of faith, there is a strong desire to respect the rights and beliefs of others.

But without a common basis of truth, for example of the existence and nature of God, or of core moral principles, how can we respect each other over time? We descend into a de facto assertion of “my truth” and “your truth.” Each hopes to respect the other. Each also, however, demands respect in return.

But what happens when those two “truths” are incompatible and have practical lived consequences?

One way that many resist, or at least limit this clash today, is to hesitate or even avoid embracing anything as true and demanding of assent and conviction.

Obviously such a reluctance to identify truth is challenged by the words of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6).

Also according to the study, young people are strongly influenced by the exultation of science in our day. The appeal to science is so widespread that it has become almost a new religion in place of God.

Our Catholic faith teaches that religion and science not only coexist but mutually support each other. Both are based in truth that has God as their source.

But according to the study, our culture and education have left our youth convinced, “that religious faith and modern science are locked in an inevitable war in which science always wins.”

The synod will need to reflect upon and grapple with these and other influences. It will not be the first time in history that the Church must ponder on how best to convey to a moment history, in a positive and convincing manner, the truth that is Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith.

Nevertheless, even though, at least for the moment, many fall away from faith, there are also real reasons for hope emanating from among our young people.

I recently visited a summer camp for teenage Catholics. In that informal setting, their sense of commitment was very real. The young people spent part of the afternoon when I was there preparing themselves and encouraging each other for confession later in the day.

Organizers described to me as well, the personal time of prayer undertaken by a number of the young people in the eucharistic chapel. Some had to be asked to “finish up” at 11 p.m. and go to bed to be ready for the next day.

During this summer, I have also visited our Jeremiah Day program which gathers a number of young men to pray, be active, and to think about a vocation to the priesthood.

Throughout the diocese of Rockford, our Totus Tuus program also helps young people to live their faith during the summer. And of course the Youth Summit each October has become a high point for youth in the diocese.

We should be glad that the Holy Father is directing our attention to young people. They need our witness, our prayers and our support.

But we should not overlook the already existing signs of faith and of the movements of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Yes, there are many concerns for young people. But there are many signs of faith as well.