An insight into a special journey: Rafael D’Aqui on the development of the YOUCAT Foundation in Brazil

Rafael, as a native Brazilian, you have a special connection to your home country. What role does Brazil play in the mission of YOUCAT?

Rafael D’Aqui: Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world and has enormous potential for spiritual growth. It is one of YOUCAT’s five most important countries for the catechetical work. The demand for our books in Brazil is enormous, especially among young people and catechists. After WYD 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, the enthusiasm for YOUCAT grew rapidly in Brazil – so much so that one could speak of a “yellow fever wave”, since the YOUCAT book is also known as “the yellow book”.

What was the purpose of your trip to Brazil?

Rafael D’Aqui: My main objective was to analyze the current situation of the foundation in Brazil, especially with regard to the distribution of our books and our collaboration with local publishing partners. I wanted to understand the needs and challenges of the Catholic Church in Brazil and how we could best support them with our materials. At the same time, it was important for me to network and learn from the creative ideas of the local Church.
A highlight of my trip was the presentation of our new publication, YOUCAT – Love Forever, a book that offers deep insights and practical guidance on the path to the sacrament of marriage, which will be published in Portuguese in 2025.

What specific challenges and needs did you identify during your trip?

Rafael D’Aqui: One of the biggest challenges is the lack of availability and accessibility of catechetical materials in remote regions. Many communities do not have easy access to printed resources or digital training materials. The training of catechists is greatly needed, as many volunteers are involved in faith formation but do not always have the necessary tools and training.

Another important issue is funding – many parishes cannot afford the materials, so we are increasingly looking for ways to make our books and training more accessible.

How does YOUCAT intend to meet these challenges and respond to the concrete needs of the communities?

Rafael D’Aqui: To improve access to catechetical materials in remote areas, we work closely with Church networks. An important step is our collaboration with Paulus Publishing House to distribute our books more effectively in Brazil.

We also aim to reach young people through social media and modern communication formats, working with Catholic media partners such as REDEVIDA e a Santo Flow podcast.

Another area of focus is the formation of catechists. During my trip, we assessed the readiness to collaborate in different regions, dioceses and parishes to better understand the possibilities for training programs. Our aim is to create new opportunities for formation and to expand our provision.

What experience do you bring from your time with ACN and how can YOUCAT benefit from this?

Rafael D’Aqui: During my tenure as a head of section at ACN, I had the opportunity to see how the Church operates in challenging contexts, especially in Latin America and Africa. YOUCAT offers concrete and creative tools for catechesis and evangelization. It is a practical response to the challenges I have encountered: the lack of clear, accessible and inspiring faith formation for the laity and young people.

In addition, through my previous role with ACN, I have direct links with various bishops, catechetical offices and other Church institutions. With my international experience, I would now like to help build bridges between different initiatives.

What was your experience like of working with the media in Brazil?

Rafael D’Aqui: Very positive! We have been able to significantly increase our presence on radio, television and social media. In particular, the Santo Flow podcast, with more than 500,000 followers, is an important multiplier for our mission.

The meeting with REDEVIDA, one of the largest Catholic television networks, was particularly impressive, giving us the opportunity to present YOUCAT’s work and reach millions of people.

Working with the Canção Nova community and the HESED Institute was also inspiring, as both have a reach of millions and a strong commitment to faith formation. Through these collaborations we want to bring our books closer to the people and make our materials more accessible.

Are there any plans for further involvement in Brazil?

Rafael D’Aqui: Yes, definitely! YOUCAT is very happy to participate in the Catequistas Brasil and Expocatólica 2026 events. Our goal is to bring the YOUCAT message to young Brazilians, especially through the new release YOUCAT – Love Forever. There has been so much demand that we may return to Brazil later this year to meet young Catholics on-site. We will probably be accompanied by our spiritual advisor, Fr Joachim Moernaut FSO.

In addition, partnerships with the media will play an increasingly important role in reaching young people more effectively. Our aim is to strengthen the spread of the Faith among young people and to build long-term networks. Brazil remains one of our key regions and we are excited to see how things develop.