Need to sustain and support the young

Basic models and foundational experiences
1 December 2010

African-Asian Group

Joseph Baru Uri, Sabitha Stephen

Hani Polus Yonu Al-Jameel, Hedwing Musanga Ataku

Our discussion was first centered on the question of the method of passing the Christian message to the youths.

We found out that Christian parents are the first catechists. The parents have to take up the first responsibility of Christian instruction at home. This they can by their way of life in their families. This means that they have to live exemplary Christian life in their families. This then becomes a very important base for the Christian education of their children before they receive other formal Christian instruction in the church.

We found out that the current method of instruction does not help the youths much. The question and answers method is not involving neither provoking. The Christian message needs to be passed to the youths in a way that reflects their own situations now and that makes them participate actively. The church as a body then has to look into the method of instruction that is relevant. The method must not be just the passing of doctrinal message but that of life.

Connected with the method, we discussed the personal issue, the teachers of Christian instruction (the catechist). The instructors should have some formal education in the doctrines of the church and that is important. However they should have done some things on youth ministry i.e. how to work with the youths today. They should be in touch with the situations of the youths and move from judgmental mentality to acceptance and understanding of the youths. The exemplary life style of the Christian instructors is also important. They should be sensitive to the language they use. This is because the youths are very sensitive and are prompt to misinterpretation. Be able to draw also from the scriptures for youth discussions that address some current issues of the youth, like the gospel passages that talk about being with children, eating in the house of his friends Martha and Mary, Jesus who is merciful and loving, Jesus welcoming sinners. Even the Pauline letters that about love, human weaknesses and the Grace of God in those moments of weaknesses etc.

Focusing on youth, we found out that they become very active when they are involved, when they consulted or asked their own contribution. This gives them a sense of responsibility. This would defuse in them the feeling that the church dictates on them or imposes things that they have to do and not to do. They need to be listened to even though we may not agree their points of view.

As a church, we need a certain degree of flexibility and adjust considerably in order to accommodate the youths today. For example they like active liturgy of dancing, singing, clapping hands, sand hared reflections. This means that in the celebrations of the liturgy a lot of adjustment that draws the attentions of the youths would ensure the sustenance of the youths in the church.

Also encouraging the youths to recollect themselves we found would give them the opportunity to discover more of the interior life and be able to be in touch with the reality of their environment and how to relate among their peers within the environment. In this however we realized that they need to be guided.

We concluded that as a church we can sustain the young in the church environment and thus stop them from running away. We have the capacity to evangelize them, but we need to be flexible in our approach and the way we look at the realities. We must be able to move with current.

Text by Joe Baru

Photos by Joe Boenzi (Discussion group 1 December 2010), Albert Kitungwa (Youth catechesis, Ivory Coast, 2008), Hani (Jordanian kid fest 2010).