By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
Continuing from my yesterday’s article, I feel along with the traditional educational agencies, “new presences” emerge which can transmit values to the young, especially towards an integrated growth, peace and harmony. There are also new possibilities for formation and involvement towards such similar goal. A progressively secularised environment with discord and distrust presents new challenges to the marginalized youth and open the way to new opportunities for the education to religion, peace and unity.
This calls for new approaches in order to encounter the young. These ‘new presences’ require a new educative and pastoral approach, a new relationship with the Church and non-church communities.
Therefore, the dioceses need to renew their own presences and make them more significant (Schools, Vocational Training Centres, Clubs, Associations, Panchayats, Family, Youth Centres, etc.) and seek out ‘new frontiers’.
The difficulty consists, on the part of the clergy, in assuming this important role of pastoral animation of the youth, which cannot be reduced to organising some activities, or coordinating some events or areas. Instead, they need to accompany the local communities in their efforts to put into use the YPP, overcoming the tendency to compartmentalise, while growing in the planning mentality and in the community dimension of the youth apostolate.
The youth’s hope-filled dreams are the catalysts of change, be in the Church or in the society at large. The determination to realize their dreams pushes the youth to active involvement in social and religious transformation which consequently determines the structural changes. Many struggle to realize so. Youth in common seek personal success and satisfaction, yet as a mass they have been catalysts of national and global transformation in every sphere of social living. Youth while doing this, have to cope with transitions in their personal life
The global changes themselves are re-shaping the young people’s lives. Caution has to be made at handing of power to those youth devoid of values and morals. Certainly, they have a prominent role to play in the society and in the Church, in building a better world (Youth Day 2012) through faith and life.
The basics of faith and life values are the foundational prerequisites before the empowerment is levied on them. A section of them, dynamic and enthusiastic as they are, their energy can be well channeled in building up the society. It is often the youth brigade and cadres that make any movement noteworthy. Therefore, the first requirement is to lay the moral foundation within the new ‘presences’ with faith-filled living and uprightness.
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]