By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
A sweeping summary of the main themes of the Synod on Youth 2018 (YS) is: dialogue, openness and attention to the youth reality full of positive aspects and enthusiasm, strengths and challenges, and guidance through accompaniment etc., marked by issues e.g. vocational discernment, formation, migration, sexual abuse, family, work, technology, defense of the embryo, etc.
Young people want to be “heard, recognized, accompanied” and want their voice to be “considered interesting and useful in the social and ecclesial field” – the essential lense through which the issues are to be viewed.
The synodal document, a motivational force, a result of a teamwork including the young people, inspired by the episode of the disciples of Emmaus, with 364 “precise and constructive” modifications, or amendments, was passed with the 2/3 majority. It complements the Instrumentum laboris of the Synod on youth, with three-part sections.
The youth synod has largely avoided contentious doctrinal disputes. The document – a “modus operandi”- is a pastoral action plan which lays the groundwork for more radical pastoral shifts. Based on this outcome, full of various proposals of concrete issues, Pope Francis has signed a magisterial text – a post-synod “apostolic exhortation” on 25th March 2019, at Loreto on the feast of the Annunciation, to help young people. A common thread in the document is the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The first part (YS 5-57) titled “He walked with them”, deals with the concrete situations of young people while emphasizing on the Catholic educational institutions and dynamic parish setting for vocation and faith formation. Along with the clergy, it acknowledges the need to train the laity for youth ministry. The reality of migration, abuse, the “throwaway culture” are also addressed upon with certain “pastoral resources” e.g. art, music and sports. It calls for a “rigorous preventive measures” against sex abuse, e.g. educating and forming leaders.
The second part (YS 58-113) – “Their eyes were opened”- affirms God’s presence in the young (“theological places”) through whom the Church can renew herself, coming out of its “heaviness and slowness”. The Church’s Mission is a “sure compass” for youth with close connection with his/her vocation which is a call to holiness achieved through accompaniment and discernment.
In the third part (YS 114-164) – “They left without delay”- the young Church is presented with the icon of Mary Magdalene, who first witnessed the Resurrection to affirm that all are in God’s heart. All are asked to ‘walk together’ with synodal dynamism and as a united universal Church (People of God) to find contextualised pastoral solutions through discernment within diverse faces, sensitivities, origins and cultures. It asks for a national directory for youth ministry in a vocational key. The families and Christian communities will have to accompany young people to discover the gift of their sexuality in the current cultural context with ‘formative paths’.
Lastly, other topics are covered with a vocational thrust i.e. universal call to holiness. The synod document, a motivational source, in its conclusion, invites all to become saints and reawaken the world with holiness, being dragged by the holiness of the young people (YS 165-167). Through the young people who are faithful to the Gospel in the midst of persecution, the Church’s spiritual ard our and its apostolic vigour can be renewed.
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].