By Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB –
Who is responsible for the youth catechesis at the national, diocesan and parish levels? Is there youth catechesis through the YM, namely, Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) of the Church in India at the diocesan and parish level? Most answer is ‘no’. The administrative and structural change at the National level, designed to better serve the model of comprehensive YM, resulted at distancing of YM from the faith education of the youth. This is so due to the lack of understanding of the goals of Youth Catechesis and YM. How do they relate to each other? What would be the goals, scope, contents and sequence of the catechetical courses within the YM of the Church?
The CBCI Commission for Youth in its policy on YM in India affirmed a multifaceted effort that integrates a num¬ber of key components, which seem to be more effective comprising a variety of activities and strategies. A youth catechesis viewed and carried out within such varied and broad YM framework seemed to be successful and the most significant development for youth catechesis.
A number of dioceses still divide YM and youth catechesis. Others sought to strengthen relationships between the two, thus few parishes shifted to a more comprehensive approach to YM bringing both under a single leadership team. In reality though, in majority cases, the responsibility for youth catechesis does not link with the office of YM. This move meant changing organizational structures and leadership along with the emphasis on the relationships between youth and adults.
The young people need adults (CV 79, 80, 64, 99) who will treat them in a holistic way, interrelate and hand over the secret of their own faith to the young, who will enter their lives and walk along in their faith journey following the Emmaus story (Lk 24:13-35) as model. This serves as a vivid description of the dynamics of YM (NYPP 48, 49-55; YS 4,5). This entails Jesus’ way of relating to the disciples with the kind of presence and relationship that enable youth to grow in faith.
The entire community is responsible for YM and calls youth to discipleship, active participation in the Church’s mission, and healthy personal and spiritual development through accompaniment (YS 16, 19, 48, 92; CV 30, 149, 202, 220). Therefore, we need to sit¬uate catechesis within the broad framework of YM and identify it as one of its major components. Youth catechesis needs renewal. “Youth catechesis must be pro¬foundly revised and revitalized” (GDC 181).
A study of few instances indicates that faith education is a weak aspect of YM. Often it is removed from YM, or is the least engaged dimension of YM. While some may have strong faith education program, others try to integrate the same into all the activities such as retreats, youth meetings, Youth fests, etc. Youth animators must be aware of the interconnectedness of the dimensions of YM (education & culture, evangelization & faith development, groups and movements, vocations) and create programs which are organically comprehensive, where one dimension reinforces and flows into the others. Each event contain all the dimensions, even if the theme of the event focuses on just one e.g. community, faith development, prayer and evangelization.
In the midst of discord, disharmony and violence in India, the Church needs to work for the unity and integrity of the country with the support of the ‘young’. Through proper education the youth have to go “beyond differences and appreciate the diversity of cultures, languages, regions, and religions to create a culture of peace and harmony”. The Church has to see to the integral development and be particularly concerned for the evangelization and spiritual accompaniment of young people, to whom the future is entrusted, (Pastores Gregis, 53). “[…] the Church sees her path towards the future in the youth, beholding in them a reflection of herself and her call to that blessed youthfulness which she constantly enjoys as a result of Christ’s Spirit” (Christifideles Laici, 46). “Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured”.
Though the young appreciate their Catholic faith, they sense a disconnect with Church language, expressions and priorities. What they need are youth-friendly platforms at all Church-levels, with active participation in social action. The present Church has to accompany them at all times and in all circumstances. The spiritual depth and dedication of some of the youth prove their search for wholeness. The young people, are in search of God-experience. “The heart of every Youth Catechesis must be the “explicit proposal of Christ to the young man in the Gospel” (NCD 58 ; GDC 183).
In today’s climate of moral disorientation, as the young search for meaning in life, the role of Youth Catechesis would be to help them establish deep and lasting relationships with God and with others (NCD 58). “A small but significant section of youth committed at various levels to socio-cultural and political change and the welfare of the community.” The hierarchical Church has to respond to their aspirations following the Jesus’ model of youth ministry: to “touch” them (Lk 8: 40-52), “challenge” them to stand up and “entrust” them back to the community (Lk 7:11-17), so that they may have life in all its fullness (Jn 10:10).
Heeding to the voice of young people, therefore, the Church in India needs to: make YM an integral part of Church’s ministry; facilitate a Trinitarian spirituality with the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life and service (LG 11); care for migrant youth; involve them in issues like human rights and social justice (CCC 1928-1942; NCD 62), climate change, environmental degradation, natural and man-made disaster management and in correct use of modern media; adopt a family life education integrated into YM ; become part of the Small Christian Communities (SCC). The Church as a living force must engage in transforming the world.
“Society will not be transformed by laws, but by people who are led by the power of God under the guidance of the Spirit.” Youth are not a problem but the strength of the Church, which can be turned into active agents of change in society. They are the source of dynamism in the Church but are also affected by conflict, terrorism and violence.
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].