Reflections on Jesus Youth (BJRE***)

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...

  Jesus Youth, Called to Be Master Builders (By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Global in 2025) Many people like the beautiful depiction of the Sacred Heart as the resurrected Lord in my parish Church. Fr. Augustine, our former parish priest, planned and built the new church and envisioned the image. Later, he was transferred to another parish. he rebuilt the Church there also. Wherever he goes, he builds. Over the years, you can trace his presence by the landmarks he has left behind—visible signs of faith planted in brick, mortar, and vision. Thinking of other builders, I remember my friend who happened to renovate his house. After getting the knack, he built another house and sold it. And he has continued, building houses. Long after he has moved on, those houses continue to shelter generations. Thinking of it, this is something profound: the gift of building. Some do it with cement and stone, others with people and communities. And in the Christian vision, building is m...

In JY, the world becomes so small. It is the power of networking! (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2025) My colleague from the chemistry department was traveling to a city in Australia for a paper presentation. He had a few stops along the way and was eager to visit some places with his wife and kids. Hesitantly, he approached me, asking if I knew anyone in those countries. “Of course I have Jesus Youth friends there,” I replied. I connected him with my JY friends in Singapore, Australia, and other locations. When he arrived, he was warmly welcomed and shown around. My friend was pleasantly surprised by the warm reception and the close bond among these Jesus Youth friends. After he returned, he told everyone about this wonderful network called Jesus Youth. For those of us in Jesus Youth, this close connectedness and family-like bond is something we often take for granted. By now, this movement that started in a small way in South India has spread to almost all ...

With a mission focus, everything becomes different in Jesus Youth (By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2025) I grew up hearing many fascinating stories about our legendary village school headmaster. “I pity the family where the children are all obedient. Its future is so bleak,” he once told a high school class. The students were stunned by this unconventional observation. One confident kid broke the silence, “But sir, if we don’t obey our elders...” “No,” he responded, “Don’t just obey, but do what you should do!”   What is the calling and responsibility of a Catholic? Before Vatican II, as someone humorously said, the duty of the ordinary Catholic was to "pay, pray, and obey.” Then came the Council with a strong call for mission, and recent popes have emphasized this call: every baptized person is urged to be a missionary. The emphasis isn't on just following rules, but on being moved by the Lord’s Spirit, who sends us out to fulfill our unique calling. ...

JY loves to travel. It is a sign of being a pilgrim people. (By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2025) I was in my second year of college when my new responsibility came: traveling, connecting with young people, and building a network. My professors and colleagues knew my itinerant style well and were quite sympathetic. This pattern has continued ever since. I had an active community, and my travels felt like being sent out from it. Their encouragement and prayer support always backed me up. Of course, this life on the move helped me develop many new skills. Later, when I began my teaching career and wanted to pursue a PhD, people who knew me well said I’d never be able to complete such serious work with all my constant travels. I remember reading a lot on trains. In the end, some of those critics never completed their work, but surprisingly, I was able to, within a reasonable time. Interestingly, from the start of this movement, most JY leaders, though they are exc...