Reflections on Jesus Youth (BJRE***)

Are you a keystone, one who holds everything together? (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Global Magazine in 2026) We were discussing how to strengthen one of the Jesus Youth regions. A few months ago, all the leaders gathered, formed clusters to work more effectively, and began meeting enthusiastically. But after a couple of meetings, most people lost interest. Anu concluded her sharing, saying, "Now we are almost back to square one. Where do we go from here?" I thought to myself, but is this a new problem? Isn't this what every group, every ministry faces? I also thought of a question that often comes up in interactive sessions with youth: You have been in this active work for so many decades. What is the secret of this continuity? What prevents groups from crumbling? I recall the endings of many earlier student leaders' gatherings. From June 1986 onward, Jesus Youth began a focused effort to build college groups and activities. To that end, we held all s...

Youthful and Zealous: The Challenges of Forming Young Lives (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Global Magazine in 2026) Sister Marietta called me. She plans to take a group of young people from the parish to a popular retreat center and seeks my support. I'm in a dilemma. Most of the youth in our parish are struggling, and Sister has spent years trying different approaches to help them. Now she hopes an experience at the retreat center will change their attitudes. I want to avoid disappointing her and acknowledge that there are no quick fixes for this big challenge. My silence, of course, will encourage her to move forward. But do I have a clear answer? I've seen young people — even those from very tough circumstances — come alive, grow, and take on leadership roles, shining hope to those around them. I notice some vague patterns. I don't have a definitive solution to today's youth challenges. The farmer who knows not how Jesus' growth parables are full o...

 Talk, talk, talk: It can build a group, but kill it, too. (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Global Magazine in 2026) “How goes your small group?” I asked Mary. Recently, Jesus Youth in their region was focused on strengthening existing groups and starting new ones. “I am not sure if I should be happy or upset,” she said, and began expanding on the joys and challenges of building communities. Young people and families are eagerly seeking a place to meaningfully belong, openly share, and grow together. It is somewhat like this: when you exercise with your friends, you persevere — and enjoy it too. Here, people are coming together to grow, and their efforts are bearing fruit. Groups are growing in both depth and number. But there are subtle challenges too, mostly about how people share and interact in these groups. Sharing in a group is so simple yet really challenging. Most people, when they first come to a group, find it difficult to open up and share. Many are not used...

Want to follow Francis? It can be so dangerous. (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2026) This year is the Jubilee of Francis—yet another opportunity to return to the roots of the inspirations of the Jesus Youth movement. Pete came to me one day to discuss and seek some direction. Even before he began speaking, I sensed it would be about Saint Francis; he had been reading him recently. He said to me, “I’m so shaken. In a way, I have discovered what I really want. Saint Francis challenges me so deeply. I want to give up everything and live life radically. It is so joyful and fulfilling. I know the danger, but my heart is moving in that direction.” I knew that terrible feeling—the one you get when you truly encounter Francis. At first, I did not know how to bring him down to earth or help him face reality. The real Francis shakes you up, as he did Dante, Chesterton, Kazantzakis, Clare, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, and many others. He died in 1226, yet for the past 80...

How We Pray in Jesus Youth: A Simple Turning to the Lord (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2026) I once heard Sibin share his encounter experience. Growing up in a Catholic family, prayer and spirituality were not new to him. But early in his youth, when a season of deep darkness came over him, he felt completely lost. In God’s providence, he came across a group of young people and joined one of their gatherings. As they sat around together, some of them began to talk to the Lord in a very natural tone. “They spoke to Jesus in a very personal way, as if He were a friend sitting there in front of them,” Sibin said. That was so cool! he thought. I, too, want to have that kind of warm, personal relationship with God. That simple experience set him on a renewed journey—one that radically changed everything in his life. This is often how prayer begins in Jesus Youth: not with methods or techniques, but with a simple turning of the heart to the Lord. The Heart of the ...

Jesus Youth: Where the Ordinary Becomes Sacred  (By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Global in 2026) In the college where I worked, Jesus Youth had a steady presence for many years. There were several associations and clubs on campus, most of them smart, polished, and loud. JY, however, lived quietly. They met every week in a hostel room tucked away in a corner of the campus, slowly drawing students into fellowship, offering space to grow in faith through study and input sessions. When city- or state-level JY gatherings happened, they invited friends along or took students for visits to hospitals and care homes. The whole college would hear about Jesus Youth during times of crisis: a natural calamity somewhere would prompt them to collect food packets, used clothes, or books and writing materials for needy children. And when Christmas arrived, the campus came alive with color — beautiful displays and simple, joyful events, all initiated by JY members. The college authoritie...