By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB
As youth are investing more time in studies (tuition), sports, fine arts, work, social activities and social media, we need to re-think the time schedule for weekly catechetical sessions. Perhaps the parish-based/school weekly or monthly sessions is no longer the richest way to provide youth catechesis. Both the young as well as the adult volunteers (catechists), find hard to find the time for catechesis. Added to it, this out¬dated design, contributes to the mindset that catechesis is weekly (or monthly) and terminal (ending) with graduation/results.
We can go for a catechetical weekend per semester, with prior notice to the young with the given dates, where they look forward to gathering with youth from other parishes, besides attending weekly meetings of their choice. Here, only a small number of catechists are needed. This can become an inter-parishes/deanery-wide event. The quality control is easier to manage by supplying to the catechists with lesson plans that employ both inductive and deductive methods, where they are mediators between the participants’ life experiences and the contents of our faith, taking into account group dynamics, media, and active participation General Directory for Catechesis (GDC 116-118, 148-161). New, short-term, intensive models of youth catechesis respond to both the fewer volunteer catechists and the problem of time.
The GDC also calls us to reflect the spirit of initiation in catechesis. The Catholic schools that build a reli¬gion curriculum according to academic grade level should consider this alternative proposal as well, exploring a new model that reflects the spirit of initiation. What would happen if the curriculum was built along the lines of evangelization, catechesis, and service (or pre-catechumenate, catechumenate, and mystagogia), and students took courses that were more in line with their prior religious education background and current degree of faith readiness than their grade level? It will bring a new scheduling for consistently engaging religion classes and teacher-student conferences. We must attend to the vertical dimension of spirituality (prayer/worship/religious affiliation) as well as the moral dimension of spirituality with necessary adaptations to the language of the youth. And finally, we must intentionally focus on discipleship to meet the catechetical needs of youth today.
With the “grammar of love” and through youthful ways of incarnating the kerygma (Christ’s death and resurrection) within an educational project (catechesis), youth have to be helped to live their faith with integrity (CV 211, 213). The ‘initial proclamation’ through catechesis “consists of entering more deeply into the kerygma” (Evangelii Gaudium 165) in joyful ways than “indoctrination”, and incarnating it in the lives of the young (CV 214) in innovative ways (witness, songs, adoration, retreat, reflection on the Scriptures, use of social networks, media, etc.).
Communicating Christ the Popular Way
According to Pope Francis, a broad and flexible “popular youth ministry, with a different style, schedule, pace and method” without attempting “to develop a pure and perfect youth ministry” (CV 232) and without “obligatory structures” (CV 230) which can often “turn the Gospel into a dull, meaningless and unattractive proposition”, would certainly help in accompanying and encouraging the youth. This has to be done within a “closely-bound community of all and for all”, sharing in the common good (CV 231).
Knowing the importance of the youth for the present and for the future of the Church, the Church needs to conduct regular faith formation programs e.g. Youth Retreats, Conventions, Bible study and Seminars, at parish and diocesan levels. “Catholic Youth Movements taking up the challenge of strengthening Youth Catechesis by encouraging the use of YouCat. One can never forget too that Liturgy is one of the great means of catechesis” (CCBI Pastoral Plan, 26). Besides, Youth Catechesis can promote fervor and faith by appreciating “the inherent nature and desirable qualities of popular devotion” (NCD 61; cf. GDC 195). “A more practical way of catechizing is to present concrete examples of great men and women who were totally transformed by Jesus Christ with their heroic witness” (NCD 109).
In the midst of the Youth Ministry’s (YM) structural expansion, the religious values and faith motivations, within the materialistic youth culture, have to be instilled through the social media (NCD 102; RM 37) that drives youth force and turn that into pastoral praxis with missionary passion. The means to social communication have to be fully inserted into catechetical methods inspired by faith with emphasis on cultural contents for developing the fundamental human attitudes. The YM needs to be open to the religious dimension inspired by the Gospel of Jesus (YS 56) within the multi-religious context of India, and the social teaching of the Church in the ‘popular’ way e.g. Youth Fest, Gospel Melody, Seminars, Camps, Weekend Retreat, Youth Pasch, Inter-faith Youth Forum (online/live), etc.
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].