YOUTH: VOICES OF HOPE IN SOCIETY
The front cover image shows youngsters commemorating Youth Day at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, the same location where an uprising against the use of Afrikaans as a vehicular language of education took place in 1976.
Some might see June 16 only as a public holiday, nevertheless, gratitude goes to those who strived on behalf of the youth for an inclusive and better education. Many youths today still face great challenges and need strong support in order to receive an integral formation which prepares them for a bright future.
VOCATION
Youth: Partners of Evangelisation
BY FR RAUL TABARANZA
AS THIS issue’s theme is ‘Youth’, I thought of writing something challenging for young people: “Youth: Partners of Evangelization.” Many young people are in crisis, especially emotionally, spirituality, in their identity; with issues of neglect and abandonment, hunger for power and fame and a search for meaning in their lives. As a consequence, they direct their vitality to self-gratification. Therefore, new ways of reaching out to the young ones are needed. Evangelization is an important aspect of our ministry, a top priority in the culture of the youth, as we witness the decline of their conduct.
Youth evangelization is weakening, yet we give up shepherding our young people. God wants youth. He wants them to be fun-loving and fruitful and to help in rebuilding the Church. Evangelization is a spontaneous response from the heart, so we train our youth to become formators for themselves and for each other, to evangelize their fellow youth and to be partners in spreading the values of the Gospel. Jesus has to be found once again in the midst of young people, for Jesus too is wearing the face of the youth.
God wants youth. He wants them to be fun-loving and fruitful and to help in rebuilding the Church
Youths should be taught to become critical thinkers to respond to the ministry of evangelization. St John Paul II, during the World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, 23-28 July 2002, gave a message to the youth as the light and salt of the earth, inviting them to become fearless witnesses of the Gospel and to bear witness to its presence in our society. One of the main functions of salt is to season and preserve food and to give it taste and flavour. Youth, as the salt of the earth, are called to preserve the faith they have received and pass it on intact to others. Light makes things visible. When the light fades or vanishes, we no longer see things as they really are. The Pope challenged the youth: “To be watchmen and watchwomen of the morning, to announce the coming of the Sun, who is the Risen Christ.”
In this way, young people who are deeply connected with love, strong in service and aware of their spiritual journey, will have the motivation and freedom to hear their calling and find their true vocation.
THE VOCATION OF COMBONI BROTHERS
THE THEME of this edition is Work and Employment. I would like to highlight the vocation of brothers in our Comboni Institute, basing my reflection on the publication of Famiglia Comboniana (2018: 786). Brothers perform very special works in our Institute. According to our Founder’s (St Daniel Comboni) original inspiration, the Institute is composed of priests and brothers which gives her a more complete ecclesial character and its activity more fruitful.