Manila, Church and youth: 700 from 30 countries at three-day conference

From April 13 to 15, the Jesuit university hosted the International Conference on Youth Ministry. Among the goals was to "accompany" them on the "journey of maturation in faith and mission in modern society." The importance of planning and personalizing: for one Indian priest, it is "effective" when it becomes a response "to local needs."

Manila (AsiaNews) - An experience that helped me "understand and learn" the importance of youth ministry in the Church, making "wise" decisions about life, leadership, accompaniment and discernment, human and Christian specifically, as in the case of marriage or consecrated life.

The words of Maria Lea Lee, one of the hundreds of young participants, outline the importance of the three-day conference in the Philippines that ended today. "I grasped the value of the uniqueness of life, determining my place and role within the community and working toward desired outcomes,"  the girl recounts.

The International Conference on Youth Ministry was held April 13-15 at the University of Manila, Quezon City, a Jesuit-led university among the most prestigious in the Philippines. The event, sponsored and organized by Loyola School of Theology and Don Bosco School of Theology, brought together more than 700 participants from 30 nations around the world, from Asia to Europe.

Attendees were able to explore, reflect and analyze the relationship between the Church and young people, the value of pastoral care and the ways through which laity and church hierarchy can best serve them. One of the messages that characterized the event, in fact, was to "accompany young people in their journey of maturation in faith and mission in modern society." 

Fr. Henry C. Eusebio Jr, a Jesuit, explained that the entire program was aimed at "animating, guiding and supporting" young people, to "accompany them on their faith journeys" and in different "life contexts."

The priest, president of the conference and of the Loyola School of Theology itself, recalls that as with parents, the Church is "committed to accompanying them toward maturity of faith and the fulfillment of their mission" with "compassion, commitment and care."

Young people, he continues, "are called to render their service through the time, talents and treasures" they have for the "common good" at every stage and in every one of their choices, from marriage to consecrated life, as priests or nuns, as lay or religious.

Jayeel Serrano Cornelio, dean of Manila University, calls the conference an opportunity to "dialogue" with those who care about the world of youth. The ministry to them, he warns, is an "effort in the key of evangelization" made to "guide them into the fullness of life in Jesus and so that they can be dynamic protagonists" in their lives and in their environment.

The "three-day study" therefore focused on the vision, principles and practices of the Church, plenary speakers and 20 working groups on various topics and issues in the world of youth.

Present were experts and professionals in the field from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, the United States, France, Croatia, and Italy among others who, through events and cultural initiatives, showcased the richness and diversity of the Churches and peoples of Asia, the Pacific and beyond.

Speaking on the topic "Youth Animation: planning and models for youth ministry," Fr. Jerome Vallabaraj of the Don Bosco Theological Center in Chennai, India, emphasized how this ministry should be "customized" to meet the needs and vision of different groups. And "planning" is "a duty and a commitment." "Youth ministry," he added, "becomes fruitful and effective when it becomes responsive to local needs, is guided by specific convictions and promoted by people.

Fr. Anthony G. de Guzman, also of Don Bosco Theological Seminary, concluded by emphasizing one of the elements of youth ministry is catechesis. It instills in them a mindset centered on a faith consistent with the Gospel so that they can "feel, think and behave like Christ. Therefore, youth catechesis should begin by teaching young people how to learn from Jesus, the omnipresent source of inspiration and ideal teacher."