“Youth Ministry in Asia: Reliving the Emmaus Story” Bishops Institute for Lay Apostolate (BILA) II on Youth

I Introduction

With the inspiration and challenge posed to us by the Gospel passage of the Emmaus Journey [Lk 24: 13-35], we, 13 bishops, 31 priests, 7 Religious and 45 lay youth animators and leaders from 19 countries 1 gathered at the Majodi Centre, Diocese of Melaka-Johor, Malaysia on 10-14 November 2007, to hold the Second Bishops’ Institute for Lay Apostolate (BILA) on Youth, under the auspices of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) – Office of Laity and Family.

To sustain the growth and development of youth ministry in Asia, which the FABC initiated through BILA I on Youth 2, the BILA II was organized with the following objectives:

1. To identify major areas of concern of Asian youth in the context of family, church and society; 2. To analyze the development of youth ministry in the last decade; 3. To review foundational principles and explore strategies in developing youth ministry in the following areas: Evangelization, Catechesis, Worship, Social Action and Leadership; and 4. To propose recommendations for more effective youth ministry on regional, sub-regional and country levels.

Our keynote speaker, faith sharers and other resource persons guided our pastoral reflection. This bore fruits of deeper insights and stronger convictions to prioritize this ministry and pattern it after Christ’s own journey with the disciples to Emmaus.

II Our experience

Retracing the steps of the two disciples, we came to realize that youth ministry starts with walking alongside the young to whom we minister. Together with them, we live in a vast continent, the cradle of world religions, marked with complex realities and even riddled with contradictions and divisions across the varied spheres of life. Only by listening with the heart and through dialogue can we enter into their minds and their many questions.

In the light of God’s Word, we accompany our youth in their doubts and disillusion, apathy and indifference , towards hope and meaning in life. Enlightened and re-enkindled by the contemplative experience of the Word, we come in touch with the deepest yearnings of our hearts and plead, “Stay with us, Lord.”

It is at the Eucharistic table that we are brought to the full recognition of the Risen Lord. Communion with the Eucharistic Christ leads us to communion with the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, where our encounter with the Lord is confirmed.

1 19 countries: Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, , , , , Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, the , Singapore, , , Timur Leste, Turkmenistan, Vietnam 2 The ten-year period between BILA I on Youth (1997) to BILA II on Youth (2007) saw the realization of the main priorities for the Youth Desk: a) Networking and bringing together our Asian Youth Commissions and other youth movements and organizations: consultation meetings were held b) Awareness-raising on our own identity and voice as Asians: the Asian Youth Gathering (AYG) I-IV within the World Youth Days and the Asian Youth Day (AYD) I-IV were held c) Training and exchange among youth ministers to become more equipped to lead and guide our youth: the Asian Youth Ministers’ Meeting (AYMM) I-IV were convened d) Encouraging the establishment in some, and re-enforcement in others, of Youth Commissions, as well as holding regional encounters 1 It is then that the experience of this encounter turns into a mission to proclaim, witness and dialogue. After sharing and hearing from each other about the different situations of youth ministry in our countries we were encouraged to carry on the journey back to our own “Jerusalems” with greater fervor.

III Recommendations

Our four-day gathering brought invaluable insights for our renewal which we propose to all those involved in youth ministry:

To our Bishops We ask you to continue “to walk with our young people” by giving the youth ministry a high priority and investing the needed resources so that the Church in Asia can also truly be a “Church of the young.” 3

To the FABC We recommend that:  The present Youth Desk be made a full-fledged Office of the Youth;  Regional activities like the Asian Youth Day (AYD), the Asian Youth Ministers’ Meeting (AYMM) and the Asian Youth Gathering (AYG) be continued; and  Special attention be paid to the on-going formation of youth ministers.

To our youth ministers, animators, and leaders We exhort you to build a solid personal relationship with Christ through a spirituality of contemplation and compassion rooted in the Eucharist, the source and summit of the youth ministry. With this, you are ready to undertake the Emmaus journey with the young by:  Patiently listening to them and knowing issues relevant to them  Empowering them through programs to live a life rooted in faith  Offering the Scripture and the Catholic Social Teachings as source of guiding principles in becoming agents of peace and transformation, especially in the midst of conflicts and challenges in Asia

Along this process of accompanying the youth towards Christian maturity, you would know when and how to let them go and take the lead in this ministry.

We also ask you to ensure that our ministry, at all levels, coordinate and synergize with other Church ministries (e.g. Family Life, Human Development, etc.), international youth movements and groups of other religions.

To the Catholic youth in Asia We say: Do not fear for you are not alone. Jesus walks with you at every step of life even when you are not aware. Learn to recognize His face through the Scripture and the Eucharist. Stay in His loving look and abide in His embrace, and you will gain the courage and joy to proclaim Him to other young people. The Church strongly believes that there is no better evangelizer of the young than you yourselves.

IV Conclusion

We thank God for the great gifts of young people, of the many dedicated youth ministers, and of the growing number of generous youth leaders in Asia. May the Spirit, who guided us these past days, strengthen our commitment to this privileged ministry that continuously brings newness to our local

3 Message of the Asian Meeting, 1970, For All the Peoples of Asia , p.23 2 churches. May Mary, who knows best her Son, accompany and teach us in leading the young to recognize the Lord.

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