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What is Jesus Youth? Is it merely a passing phase for youth in which they find and enjoy new friendship groups? Or is it just a platform for youngsters to meet Jesus - to solve their problems and receive blessings – which is easily discarded once they step into an independent life? Isn't JY a platform to bring together the emigrant Indian youth across the world and give them an identity in places where they are culturally alienated? Is this a movement ‘of' the youth or ‘for' the youth? What is the role of a young adult or a youth minister in this movement? Amidst the many Catholic movements, what is the relevance of Jesus Youth? Where are we headed? These are some of the many questions put to me regarding JY in the course of my frequent travel. They are also questions I have asked myself on several occasions - questions to which convincing answers do not come easily. However one of the greatest blessings for me is that even as these questions abound, I am afforded a totally different perspective - down the years to the present - of people and faces that continually challenge my life and give my mission a meaning. Certainly many are attracted to Jesus Youth by the beauty of the fellowship. It is true also that many come in to find a release from their problems and to receive blessings. However, a closer look reveals the ones we may identify as true Jesus Youth - those who have found a meaning and a mission for their life through this platform, those who have adopted this lifestyle, having found in it their vocation, and those who live out their Christian lives with deep conviction and commitment as part of this move of the Spirit. Recently I witnessed a rare gathering of youth (all below 25 and from different nationalities) who come together every day at 6.30 am for intercession. After 30 minutes of prayer, they snatch a quick breakfast of bread right there, and then rush to their campuses and workplaces! In one sense the Jesus Youth International network came as a response to a search for identity of the Indian migrants outside India . But it would be wrong to suppose that the movement itself began with this purpose in mind. In Kerala or in India , where there never has been such a need, the movement swept across many lives and communities, bringing drastic changes in its wake. Even though JY began with Indians, there are at present several countries that have people of 10 nationalities attending a single prayer meeting. In some of the teams, wehave leaders from 5 different countries working on a single project - but most of them are Asians. The movement is only just beginning to open its arms to embrace our European, American and African brothers and sisters. JY is a lay ministry with a focus on the evangelisation of youth. We work under the guidance of priests and religious to make it effective in these times. The document of the United States Catholic Bishop's Conference – “A Vision of Youth Ministry”- makes an interesting observation regarding the dimensions of Youth Ministry: “Youth Ministry is to, with, by and for youth. Youth ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community. Youth Ministry is TO youth when the Christian community exercises it pastoral role in meeting young people's needs. […] Youth ministry is WITH youth because young people share with adults a common responsibility to carry out the Church's mission. […] Youth ministry is BY youth when young people exercise their own ministry to others, particularly to their peers. […] Youth ministry is FOR youth in that adult youth ministers attempt to interpret the needs of youth and act as advocates in articulating youth's legitimate concerns to the wider community.” (1986, Pg. 6-7) Youth need to have their own ministry. However, we also need people who have identified their charisms and grown in this movement to continue to be a part of the movement even when they cease to be ‘youth' - the movement is built on their experience and wisdom. Then again we need priests and religious who have a charism for youth ministry to guide the movement and form the leaders. Without such a spectrum of people, I don't think Jesus Youth could survive. According to recent statistics the success rate of winning for Christ those who have moved out of campuses into the world is 15%, while it is 85% for those in colleges / universities / schools. We know that the number of youngsters involved in church activities is very small in spite of all the present movements and communities. We need many more movements to be united in the heart of the Church, taking part in her mission of reaching out to souls, with all the diverse charisms and working strategies they have to offer. Looking to the future, the only thing we know is that we have a specific mission in the Church and the world. Over the last two decades, we have experienced the step-by-step guidance of the Spirit. Let us move ahead with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Some months back I was with a JY service team, trying to resolve a problem they had with another organization in the area. Knowing that all that the situation called for was an acceptance and recognition of their organization, I expressed a desire to meet with their president. However, I was shocked when one of the JY leaders opposed this; he thought that to do so would be humiliating for me and for the movement. As I see it, my commitment was not drawn from Jesus Youth, or those around me, but from the one who humbled himself and became man, to serve, to break the cords of dissension, and bring down the walls of division. He is our model; and in the face of the many misunderstandings and divisions within Christianity, we need to remember what Bishop Christopher Prowse tells us in the cover story - “our task is to build bridges and knock down walls”. So in this season of grace, let us joyfully take on the humility of the Christ Child in the manger who was born to build a bridge - the bridge of reconciliation between heaven and earth. Joyous Christmas wishes and grace filled New Year greetings from all of us in the Jesus Youth International Office ! Manoj Sunny Jesus Youth International Co-ordinator
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