Youthful and Zealous: The Challenges of Forming Young Lives (BJRE101)

 Youthful and Zealous: The Challenges of Forming Young Lives

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 don't want to disappoint her or say 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. However, I won't claim to have a definite solution to today's youth challenges.

The farmer who knows not how

Jesus' growth parables are full of insight. In Mark 4:26 and the following verses, I discover important lessons for guiding young people as they grow while building a community where they can find themselves and develop alongside others. It's like a farmer who sows seed and waits patiently and eagerly — watching over it without fully understanding how growth works — then seeing the fruit and harvest. The passage covers everything.

I reflect on the late 1970s and Sr. Sartho SD, whose zeal, persistence, and unwavering reliance on the Spirit led to remarkable achievements. She served in a rural parish on Vypeen Island, far from the city. Most people who work effectively with young people are smart and talented — she was neither. Instead, she had a burning love for youth, immersed herself in the messy realities of their lives and families, and was always eager to find help for them. I know this because she would often come to share her concerns, ask for guidance, and eventually began bringing many young people to our group in the city.

Helping young people involves both planting and nurturing individual trees as well as tending a field where many seeds grow together. It's a balance between personal growth and community faith development. Close, attentive care for someone's inner life is essential — but if it causes a person to turn inward, obsessed with feelings and self-analysis, it becomes harmful. Therefore, it's equally important to foster a community where one belongs, navigates conflict and diversity, and grows into someone who helps create a better environment.

One important aspect is often ignored. Experts — those with grand frameworks for youth development — are not always helpful and can sometimes become obstacles. Expertise may cause us to depend on past methods and clever techniques rather than focusing on the real needs: love, acceptance, and open-mindedness to change. That’s why I highlighted Sr. Sartho. She didn't fit the typical image of a good youth worker, but her big heart made her persistent, and her tireless efforts produced real results. She gathered young people, attended to individuals, and brought in the right help at the right moment; today, many strong leaders around the world can trace their development back to her. 

Youth is often wasted on the young.

Recently, I visited a Jesus Youth region and took part in various groups. The family groups were encouraging; seeing the children's creativity was inspiring. The high schoolers were curious and enthusiastic. However, I found myself wondering: where are the young adults? Eventually, they gathered, and that time with them led to several reflections.

I tend to categorize young people into three levels: outside, inside, and enthusiastic. When I interact with a group, I first try to gauge where they stand—gently encouraging them to open up, then listening and observing carefully. This group had about twenty people. Gradually, I gained a sense of who they were. Nearly all were good Catholics, a few on the fence, and only a couple truly in that third, enthusiastic category.

What do these groups want? Simply put: the first group, the outsiders, seeks entertainment; the second seeks engagement; and the last seeks encouragement. We who work in spiritual ministry rarely encounter the first group — the chaotic ones rarely show up unless drawn by a genuinely persuasive friend. The group we usually meet is made up of decent, non-rebellious young people who can sit and listen. They've been well-formed at home, at school, and in the parish.

The challenge is that when time is limited, there's usually not much to do with the "good", well-formed group. They expect a solid talk, to listen patiently, to gather some spiritual ideas, and then leave. That's pretty much it. But spending an hour or two with an enthusiastic group is completely different — you can listen, answer their questions, and let the Spirit guide you to new places.

Jesus Youth, enthusiastic and enduring

When I meet young people, I hope to guide at least a few toward becoming Jesus Youth — if not in name, then truly in character: being personally passionate about Christ's mission, rooted in joyful community, and eager to do their part in changing the world. Jesus, in the parable, calls us to be that kind of visionary farmer. Sr. Sartho's patient work has produced many solid, lasting leaders. My prayer for Sister Marietta and her young people is that she, or someone around her, will gain a clear vision of young people and begin some real work there. Thank God, many around the world continue that work in Jesus Youth.

With the group I visited, I intentionally let them down — I didn't give a formal talk, but instead had a casual conversation. Afterward, I looked for the enthusiastic young people I had noticed and encouraged them personally. I also mentioned them to the elders and asked for follow-up. I still need to do my part.