Guidelines for Redemptorist Youth and vocation ministry C.Ss.R

Overview of RYVM This overview has a threefold purpose Promise “youth ministry is an adequate place for discoverying the sense of life and of proper vocation” (Orientamenti, n. 7) A renewed effort A common approach The urgency of our time

Outline Of the Guidelines RYVM Part I Points of reference Outline Of the Guidelines RYVM Part II Putting the ideal into practice Part III The experience of recent years

Points of reference: Theological and Pastoral Principles 1 God created us in an act of love 2. Our human vocation is to live rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. 3. The Holy directs our hearts to love 4. We do not live only for ourselves, but to the life of the word Man Woman Spirit

Points of reference What we intend as RYVW 2 Every ministry is in itself vocational by nature (considering the common baptismal vocation) Discernment is a necessary and important process in the maturity of every Christian

Points of reference What we intend by RYVW 3 The link between Evangelization and Discernment Preferential Option for the Youth between 16-30 years

God Redemptorist Methodology Humanity Language

Points of reference What we intend by RYVW 4 We keep these points in mind 1. God 2. Humanity 3. Language 4. Strategies (Proclamation of the Word of God, Witness and Testimony, Prayer, Gatherings and Groups ) ALFONEGB

Putting the ideal into practice Step One RYVW must be inculturated THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE “To lead the youth to know, in an attractive manner, the person of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, in order that, making a personal option for HIM, they may agree to commit their lives with those of the ecclesial community and, begin with this, to contribute efficaciously to the construction of a society that is more just and fraternal”.

Putting the ideal into practice first stage, Initiation Acknowledging and being open to where the Youth are in terms of their spirituality, knowledge of faith and of Jesus. Our goal is to expand their knowledge of faith and of Jesus, and lead them towards a deeper commitment to Christ and the life, through the Word of God, and living a Christ-centred life.

Putting the ideal into practice first stage 1 Strategies - We find opportunities to encounter youth where they are. - We model for them the invitation of the Gospel to walk the journey of life together with mutuality and respect. - We find ways to bring the Gospel to life in ways they can understand and accept.

2 Strategies (continued…) - We need to clarify some of biases and misperceptions young people may have about the Gospel and Christian values. - We create opportunities to build a sense a belonging and acceptance among the youth and in our relationship with them. - We support these opportunities and initiatives through our presence and facilitation..

Putting the ideal into practice second stage: Deepening Begin by acknowledging their personal commitment to Jesus, and the Gospel. Our goal is to accompany the youth as they opt to commit themselves to follow Jesus and to live the Gospel through action. To guide youth in the way of discipleship that invites them into a journey of personal discernment to help them discover their vocation and call to the Gospel in their life.

1 Putting the ideal into practice second stage Strategies -  We deepen the sense of community and foster an open and collaborative spirit through the belonging to a group. -  We seek to form our young people with clear and realistic understandings of the options they have before them. -  We promote the integration between “faith” and “life” - We are present with and for young people in their development of their faith life, and their life journey.

2 Strategies (continued..) - We generate, at the personal and communal level, a critical consciousness of contemporary social issues and foster a pastoral sensitivity towards all forms of poverty and marginalization - We accompany youth in faith and in the spiritual life, beginning with their “friendship with God”, and fostered through personal and community prayer, prayer readings on the word of God, the celebration of the sacraments.

3 Strategies (continued..) -  We invite youth to reflect on the ways God has gifted them in their lives, and how they can use their gifts through the different vocations of the Church. - We present the Redemptorist charism and spirituality as a source of life in the midst of the Church.

The option to commit oneself to follow Jesus and to build the Kingdom. Putting the ideal into practice third step: Mission The option to commit oneself to follow Jesus and to build the Kingdom. Our goal is to offer a vision of vocation that may help the youth become “adult Christians” through a lay vocation, consecrated life, and ordained Ministry in the Church and in world.

Putting the ideal into practice third stage To discover and be present to the opportunities and the methods to incarnate the following of Jesus as a vocational project, to promote a renewed sense of a culture of vocations in the church and in the world. Strategies: We live a style of life inspired by the Beatitudes, in order to live our vocation as a generous gift of love, and of service to others.

2 - We renew our missionary commitment, to communicate the love of God through Jesus the Redeemer, and transform personal and social realities - We honour and value the lived faith journey of each individual, and we renew in each one of us, the steps leading to human and faith maturation in the midst of the community, in a spirit of discernment and of continual conversion

3 We spiritually accompany youth so that they may discover their personal mission in life, whether it is lived through marriage, single life, or commitment as a lay person in the Church, or in a vocation to consecrated life Participation in the Redemptorist family as a professed member is presented as an option of life. Openness of young men to this open requires “specific accompaniment” which will lead them to the Redemptorist vocation lived through their life and ministry through profession.

Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT Every (V)Province has the opportunity to foster such a project like R.Y.V.M. Depending upon the gifts and talents of the members of each (V)Province that are able to provide leadership for the project, they may work as one animator for the Unit, or ideally as a Team to help coordinator and bring to life the efforts and ministries that are a part of R.Y.V.M.

3 levels are considered at present: Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT 3 levels are considered at present: In every Redemptorist community, one should be engaged with a youth program or group who are integrated into the Christian community and in the local church, and to be able to identify the youth of the area who are abandoned in the church. The LOCAL level

Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT The PROVINCIAL Level There should be a measure of ownership and dialogue between the priorities and goals of the (V)Provincial Pastoral Plan and the goals and ministries directed toward youth in the (V)Province, especially through the role of the (V)Provincial Team charged with working with youth.

Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT The INTERPROVINCIAL or Regional Level For the enrichment of the youth and their animators, every (V)Province should engage in common projects with other (V)Provinces in their region or sub-region for both event-based programs and ongoing programs.

Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT To begin to reflect on how the Redemptorist Mission can speak to the lives of young people in our (V)Provinces, it is good to reflect on the following questions: What is the situation of youth in our (V) Province or in this country? What are their greatest needs with reference to evangelization, and discovering their life vocation as a gift from God? What type of believers do we want?

What collaboration can we count on from the confreres or from the young people themselves? What is the nature of evangelization that can be carried out in the local communities or by a centralized team? What important occasions should we suggest to young people for meeting during the year? What structures of support need to be developed and maintained to guarantee the effectiveness of work of a Team?

THE EXPERIENCE OF RECENT YEARS We share together Putting the ideal into practice URGENCY OF A PROJECT We share together THE EXPERIENCE OF RECENT YEARS

The End