Reflections on Jesus Youth (BJRE***)

 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...

 The Enthusiasm and Dynamics of Jesus Youth 85 (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2025) Just a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Houston, TX, standing outside St. Angela Merici Church when I met Josy and his wife. A few other Jesus Youth were there too, and soon we were chatting away like old friends. Josy, it turned out, was the one who designed the Christmas card we used to prepare for the Jesus Youth ’85 conference! I even had a PDF copy of it on my phone. As we stood there reminiscing, Josy began to share some wonderful memories from those hectic but grace-filled days leading up to that historic gathering forty years ago. I was glad that I had most of the movement’s early materials stored online. When someone said, “Could we take a look at the Jesus Youth materials? It would be great to see what you all did back then,” I was more than happy to oblige. Later that evening, we gathered at home, opened up some old files, and dived into the story of Jesus...

The Art and Joy of Balancing Old with New (By Dr. Edward Edezhath, published in Kairos Global in 2025) When my elder son got married many years ago, he wanted the church service to be held in a traditional style. He found a good Latin choir and arranged the liturgy in a quiet church. I glanced through the song sheet, filled with Latin hymns. There were a few mistakes, and I began correcting them. My son was mildly surprised that I knew the songs and remarked, “Oh, you Jesus Youth know Latin songs!” I wasn’t surprised by his reaction. With my background in Charismatic spirituality, he didn’t expect me to appreciate the old ways, like Latin hymns. During my college years, most young people dismissed traditional practices. The Charismatic Renewal came then—soon after the Second Vatican Council—when freedom and freshness were in the air. New expressions flourished: spontaneous prayers, friendly Eucharistic celebrations, rejection of printed prayers, and even prayer sessions that began with...