Strengthening youth ministry learning from WYD
Taipei
(AsiaNews)-A three-day conference for Catholic youth assistants (2012 全国 青年 辅导 研习 营) ended yesterday at Changhua's spirituality
centre (静 山 灵 修 中心), in the center of the island of Taiwan. More
than 60 youth workers came together for the first time to better prepare the
pastoral care of children and adolescents in the coming months. In
the last two years, 2010 and 2011, those who had attended the meeting of the
young assistants (台湾 青年 工作者 会议, Taiwan Youth Ministers 'Meeting, TYMM)
had urged the bishops' conference to for better formation. Indeed, in addition to
experienced teachers, there are also many beginner parents and young assistants
who need to be accompanied in their mission. The request was very well
received, and the meeting was held September 21 to 23.
The
first session on Friday 21 was a general introduction to pastoral work with
young people (青年 工作 概论) led by young Korean priest Fr. Alex (朴正焕 神父) who works in the
youth ministry of Taiwan, taking a cue from the documents the
last two popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI and the World Youth Days they
promote.
Saturday
morning focused on the biblical theme of vocation in general and of the call to
every young person to follow Christ (圣经 与 青年). The
session was led by Sister Nonie Gutzler (葛素玲 修女), a Maryknoll nun from the United States.
The
third session dealt with psychological problems (心里 与 辅导) that are closely connected with growing up and
especially adolescence. Professor
Zhen (郑玉英 女士), with a long
experience as a psychologist, led the meeting with humor and intelligence in a
reading of the complex issues relating to young people of that age.
Saturday
evening the meeting dealt with the more practical aspects, such as encouraging
kids to liturgy and prayer, kindling in them the interest to participate
actively in the Eucharist (灵 修 礼仪 与 青年 工作). The
session, led by Father Gao (高 天佑 神父) of the Community St. John, ended with a prayer
in a style similar to that of Taize.
Sunday,
23 Father Fan (范 重 光 神父), a Vietnamese Divine Word Missionary(SVD 圣言 会) working in Chiayi, spoke of his work
with young people (青年 工作 实务) in the diocese of Chiayi.
In
the final afternoon, before the concluding Mass, there was a meeting (综合 座谈) led by Msgr. Zhong
(钟 安 住 主教), bishop in charge of youth ministry in Taiwan,
in which participants were able to express questions, concerns or require
clarification of their mission. The
bishop particularly encouraged the assembly of operators, while offering the
opportunity next year to have two meetings of this type to meet their needs. "It
's important to work together, because the young people of Taiwan deserve our
deepest attention," concluded Msgr. Zhong.
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