By Fr Soroj Mulick, SDB –
Going beyond ‘a reductive and moralistic’ approach, faith education would help the young to be more responsible and take risks that can “strengthen their humanity” (CV 233, YS 70).
An inclusive youth catechesis that leaves the youth open “to accept fully all the teachings of the Church” and to take part in certain activities for young people, provided they have “the desire and willingness to be encountered by God’s revealed truth” (CV 234). All youth, those with different visions of life, those of other religions, atheists, etc., “without exception, are in God’s heart and thus in the Church’s heart” (CV 235).
Such popular Youth Mission (YM) becomes “a process that is gradual, respectful, patient, hopeful, tireless and compassionate” following the example of the disciples of Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35) (CV 236). This approach would encourage the young people in commit themselves to “an irrepressible “popular” missionary activities that breaks through the customary models of YM (CV 239). Here we highlight certain areas that need to be interpreted, integrated, adapted and engaged with, in order to realize a relevant and a context-based youth catechesis.
Theology of the Human Created in the Image of God
Today we have to reaffirm the theology of the human – anthropological basis for our understanding of revelation through Scripture and Tradition, our acceptance of faith and reason, and its relevance to youth catechesis. All humans have the natural ability to know God.
Man’s faculties make him capable of coming to knowledge of the existence of a personal God
[. . .] “God, the first principle and last end of all things, can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.” […] Man has this capacity because he is created “in the image of God.” (CCC 35, 36)
Youth have the innate ability to sense the Sacred and develop a relationship with God. This reaffirms two aspects of youth catechesis: young people already have a spirituality, and help them further reflect on it in light of the Catholic faith. It sees the interconnectedness of human goodness, human sinfulness, and the redemptive power of grace (GDC 16).
Youth already have a faith relationship with God. Catechesis has to help young people attend to their existing faith experiences. The other catechetical task is to help them find a home for their faith in our Catholic family. Each task requires different catechetical skills and goals, basing on the content of their lives and the content of Catholic faith.
A Context-based Catechesis
It is essential to analyze and know the situation. Both the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) and National Youth Pastoral Plan (NYPP) call for attending to the social, economic, cultural, religious dimensions (NYPP 5-23, 63-78) following the parable of the sower, listening to the youth culture, discerning “an echo (omen, invocation, sign) of the Word of God; a discernment of what has an authentic Gospel value or is at least open to the Gospel” (GDC 204).
Therefore, the insights of the laity, pastoral workers, and clergy who live in the same cultural circumstance must be incorporated. One has to give particular attention to the language of the young people – mentality, sensibility, tastes, style, and vocabulary: an “adaptation of catechesis to young people” is needed (GDC 185). YM must be responsive to the diverse needs of the youth today with modern changes and challenges, especially the effects of the media. YM has to see to the youth development based on four essential assets-knowledge, values, skills, and commitments in the lives of youth.
The religious instruction given in schools and other educational institutions, which are “essential places for the evangelization of the young”, are mostly “structured only for the sake of self-preservation” and so the faith instruction “proves often incapable of nurturing lasting experiences of faith” (CV 222). The religious and moral teachings through these “bunker” schools, do “not prepare them to uphold those values” and they do not “learn ways of praying and practicing the faith that can be easily sustained amid the fast pace of today’s society”, forming them “into a strong, well-integrated person” (CV 221).
Without separating spiritual from cultural formation, integrating the knowledge of head, heart and hands through an experience of the kerygma, dialogue, questioning, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches, cultural encounters, networking and an option for the poor, are some of the guiding principles [1] for a formidable youth catechesis (CV 223; Veritatis Gaudium, 7-8).
The diverse youth situations calls for diverse approaches to YM, with flexible and adaptable programmes, responding to the varied situations and changing needs of youth. Catechesis is to be carried out in a wide variety of ways that correspond to the particular situations of youth in local settings. Therefore, we need to consider the diverse forms of catechesis and find new ways to carry out youth catechesis (GDC 185), through serious commitment, preparation, collaboration and communication among youth, adults, youth animators, catechists and the leaders of the Church.
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].