Youth Synod 2018: Yet another springtime for youth accompaniment - (BJRE005)


Youth Synod 2018: Yet another springtime for youth accompaniment

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2018)

The Jesus Youth movement is much indebted to the times and charism of Pope John Paul II. He was very much a friend of the young generation. While the second half of the last century was full of confusing signals for young people worldwide, this saintly Pope reached out to the youth with his beaming smile, telling them that their dreams and abundant energy are so important for the church and the world. The most memorable turn of his youth accompaniment was the International Year of Youth celebration in 1985, when the movement got its name. Today, another immensely charismatic Pope is at the helm of Peter’s raft. With his beaming smile, this youth-friendly Pope has taken the historic step of announcing a Youth Synod.

“The Church has so much to talk about with youth, and youth have so much to share with the Church,” wrote John Paul II in 1988. With this attitude, he spent time listening to them, and they, in turn, eagerly lent their ears to his words of challenge. Perhaps it is with the same spirit of learning from the younger generation that Pope Francis has convened this Synod. In the Preparatory Document, this attitude is spelled out very clearly: “Young people know how to discern the signs of our times, indicated by the Spirit. Listening to their aspirations, the Church can glimpse the world which lies ahead and the paths the Church is called to follow.”

The Synod of Bishops

The Synod of Bishops is a permanent institution of the Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Paul VI in 1965, shortly after the close of the Second Vatican Council, to continue the spirit of collegiality and communion that was present at the Council. The Synod is an assembly of bishops worldwide who assist the Holy Father by providing counsel on important questions facing the Church. It meets at the Holy Father's request when he considers it necessary or opportune to consult with the world's bishops.

The forthcoming Synod will be the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops, and its theme will be "Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment." Bishops’ representatives from all over the world and other specially invited delegates will gather at the Vatican from 3 to 28 October this year to reflect on issues relating to the young generation. 

A Preparatory Document was released in January 2017. This booklet briefly examines the current global situation, the lives of young people in the modern world, and the process of walking with young people as they discern their personal "vocation of love."  At the end of the Document, there are questions to help the church leaders “express their understanding of the world of young people.” The Pope also released his ‘Letter to Young People,” in which he tells the youth, “Do not be afraid to listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices; do not delay when your conscience asks you to take risks in following the Master.”

The Vatican Synod Office also launched a survey website in June 2017. This was aimed at gathering feedback directly from young people. Responding in various languages was an option. The survey will help the Synod Office better understand the realities of young people today and their pathways to vocation and the Catholic faith.

Reading the Road Signs

One on a journey should learn to read the road signs; if not, one may cause serious trouble.  While he challenges the whole church to reflect on youth and their world, Pope Francis seems to believe that this exercise should awaken everyone to the challenges of the emerging new world. Being attentive to the young people is, perhaps, one of the best ways to open our eyes to the future and to the promptings of the Spirit. 

This reading of road signs has always been the style and strength of the Jesus Youth movement. As the Chruch around the world focuses on youth and in many countries, they observe another ‘Youth Year’, for the movement it is a wake-up call, a call as Jesus said to “interpret the signs of the times” (Mt 16:3). What are some of the significant Road Signs that the Synod is raising?

1. The challenges of the contemporary world: Today’s youth live in a world very different from their parents and educators. This new set of affairs has radically changed this generation. Getting to know this new world is fundamental to connecting with young people.  

2. What and how of discernment: Young people face abundant choices. It is very important to know how to make informed and responsible choices, heeding the prompting of the Spirit. The Preparatory Document speaks at length about the process of discernment. 

3. The right mode of announcing Good News today: The Synod itself, for the Church, is examining how to proclaim the Gospel in these changed times. It can best be done by listening to the younger generation's aspirations. 

4. Revisiting youth accompaniment: The Document speaks of an unwholesome path in youth ministry, being “tempted to take control of their faith.” The Church would like to see the accompaniment offered to youth as “her call to collaborate in the joy of young people.” This revolutionary approach to seeing the beauty of the younger generation's life calls for an ever-renewing sensitivity to the younger generation. 

5. Need for persons of reference: Having credible and mature people of reference is important for a young person's development. The Church and the movements have a big role in training and making such shepherds of souls available in families, neighborhoods, and the larger community.

6. The participatory mode: Youth do not want to be “passive recipients of pastoral programs and policies.” Lack of opportunities for participation will lead to resignation and fatigue. To develop a confident, energetic, and enterprising generation, we need dynamics of active reflection, interaction, decision-making, and implementation in which youth play a key role. 

7. Specific places to belong: If young people are to grow into mature Christians, they need specific places for meeting, cultural formation, education, evangelization, celebration, and service. There must be a way of “going out,” “seeing,” and “Calling” to these loving communities. These specific places of love and faith form the young people and send them out as missionaries.

“You always have the poor with you,” said Jesus in a discussion about anointing. Today, the young generation is a selection of the needy in whom we must see Jesus. Maybe we must say, “Youth are always with us, and they always pose a big challenge.”  The Synod and its time of preparation and follow-up are a God-given opportunity to sensitize ourselves personally and in our communities to the challenges the younger generation poses, and be renewed in our outlook and missionary zeal. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Story of the Name ‘Jesus Youth’ (BJRE013)

Image
The Story of the Name ‘Jesus Youth’  (Published in Kairos Magazine in 2018) This movement, ‘Jesus Youth,’ has grown and spread. It is present in almost three dozen countries and on all continents. The movement has given rise to several fascinating and youth-friendly initiatives. For numerous people, ‘Jesus Youth’ is a label they proudly apply to themselves, saying, ‘I am a Jesus Youth!’ So naturally, people ask, ‘How did this name come about?’ or ‘Who gave the movement this name?’ I tell them, initially, the name was that of a conference, and we never thought of it as the name of a movement. However, after the 1985 conference, those who had participated in the gathering began identifying themselves as Jesus Youth, and gradually, other people associated with the network also adopted this name. To discuss its background, the steps to bring together the youth in the Charismatic Renewal in Kerala started in earnest in 1978. For this purpose, a team was formed, and after a few gathering...
Read more

What is Jesus Youth Mission? Building witnessing communities (BJRE071)

Image
  What is Jesus Youth Mission? Building witnessing communities (By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2023)   These days, I regularly attend two weekly prayer groups. The Wednesday group is my old one, which now meets online. It goes very well.  The local group gathers on Sunday afternoons, but its attendance is not very consistent. Occasionally, they cancel the meeting because other commitments arise, and they often choose to skip it for study sessions or outside events. Participation in a community is a habit, and a good habit must be carefully nurtured. However, many people gradually disconnect from Jesus Youth as the group becomes inconsistent. Perhaps this was what the writer of the book of Hebrews observed: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (10:24,25) Even in the early Church...
Read more

Can Spirituality be so much fun - (BJRE001)

Image
Can spirituality be so much fun? (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2016) “I just wanted to discover why these people are so interested in Jesus Youth. Won’t they get bored with prayer and these talks on Spirituality?”  I was taking my 17-year-old son to the Joy Conference, which Jesus Youth Teens Ministry had organized. Earlier, some youth came home and mentioned the program to him, and to my surprise, he willingly gave his name. As we drove to the program, he told me he was going there out of curiosity. His idea is that anything to do with spirituality is so dull; if so, why are so many smart teenagers and youth so crazy about Jesus Youth? And he was going there to unravel the mystery. After four days, as I was taking him back home from the Joy Conference, I asked him how the whole thing had been. “Not bad,” he said. Knowing him, I heard it as ‘Excellent”. Little by little, he spoke to me about the friendly ones he had met there, how they had fun during the...
Read more