By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
Much has happened in the field of catechesis over the last thirty years with changes that compel to consider different approaches to Youth Catechesis. Adults who catechize too have gone through different theological backgrounds and religious education. In this crucial context the youth need to remain rooted in their Christian identity and culture, and not bring in corrosion of “their Christian perspectives on faith and morals.”
Therefore, there is the need for new evangelization to help young people discover God and engage in interreligious activities, encouraging them to get involved in a dialogue of life. Social themes of justice, peace, liberation a time dominate the pastoral and catechetical curricula. Therefore, we need to reflect and study seriously on the youth pastoral praxis of the Church.
The priority to the heart of Youth Ministry (YM) in the Church consists in religious values and faith motivations through catechesis within the materialistic youth culture, that help to discover the driving force of youth pastoral praxis with a missionary passion. Pope Francis invites the youth “to grow spiritually” for, “there is also the beauty of seeking “righteousness, faith, love and peace” (2 Tim 2:22) (Christus Vivit, CV 159). On this year’s Palm Sunday (2019), which is also diocesan World Youth Day, Pope Francis invited young people to live out the fruits of the Synod namely, Christus Vivit, as a guide to faith and service, stating, “[E]ach of you can find fruitful ideas for your own life and your own path of growth in faith and in service.”
The YM process has to be fully inserted in the field of education of the young inspired by faith and the Gospel with emphasis on cultural contents offered in the daily activities ensuring a meeting point between culture and faith. As “globalization is bringing with it forms of cultural colonization that sever young people from their cultural and religious roots” (CV 185; YS 14), Youth Catechesis would accompany and enable them to hold on to their basic identity. YM including Youth Catechesis has to be flexible, inviting young people to events not just to ‘learn’, but also to share, celebrate, sing, listen to real stories and experience “a shared encounter with the living God” (CV 204).
The YM needs to be open to the missionary dimension of communicating Christ, inspired by the Gospel of Jesus (YS 56) and the social teaching of the Church. The process of education to the faith which corresponds to the complex youth situation in its various expressions, so far has failed to achieve in practice the synthesis between education and evangelization. To bring the youth to face the challenge of dialogue, and socio-communitarian responsibility, it requires a certain maturity in the integration of faith-life through an organized YM that involves each social and ecclesial reality within the particular cultural context. The present study provides guidance for faith education of youth in the present context of YM keeping in mind the above principles and dimensions. The full benefit of the orientations proposed, however, will depend on accepting, interpreting, adapting and executing them in each local context.
To be continued…
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].