Bishops Urged to Motivate Youth Through Pastoral Care

GUWAHATI, Assam, Feb. 26, 2010, 18.20 Hrs (CBCI News):

The Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops of India which is now underway at Don Bosco Institute in Guwahati discussed in length the various aspects of youth for peace and harmony in the society on Thursday, February 25.

Dr. Abraham Joseph, Reader of English at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum addressing the 163 Bishops of the country gathered for their 29th Plenary Assembly highlighted salient features of youth for peace and harmony which is also the theme for the ongoing meeting of the bishops. Dr. Abraham in his speech emphasized the role of the Church in formation of youth for peace and harmony. He said that the Church can play a vital importance by transferring the values of piety, selflessness, sacrifice and altruism. He said that the religious heads of the Catholic Church can be role model for youth by their exemplary life and deeds.

Dr. K. S. Manoj, former Member of the Parliament spoke about ‘Youth and Public Life’. He urged the Catholic religious heads to encourage and promote youth to take active part in politics and media which will determine the face of the nation in course of time. Dr. Manoj expressed his concern at the low representation of young people in elevated bodies and decision making despite their aspirations to participate in political arenas. He said that the presence of youth in politics and public life would bring about a positive change in the life of the Church and society.

Dealing with the topic of ‘Migrant Youth’ Ms. Barbara S. Sangma, Lecturer at Don Bosco College, Tura expressed concern at the plight of the youth who are moving from rural areas to the urban in search of better prospects. She said that the youth migrating to more alluring cities more often experience physical, mental, spiritual, social and cultural alienation. Ms. Barbara also expressed her deep concern at the female migrant who are victims of rape and harassment in other parts of the country. She made an appeal to the Bishops of the country to pay special attention to the migrant youth so that the their pastoral care is taken care and they are guided to be an agent of peace and harmony in the society.

Sr. Maria Goretti Sangma from Shillong speaking on ‘Youth and Spirituality’ in her address to the august gathering of bishops of the country said that the young people of today find themselves in so many death dealing situations such as addictions, depression, loneliness, broken relationships, shattered dreams or the absence of dreams, broken family, academic failure, not being able to live up to the expectations of parents, suicidal tendencies, violence, death, discriminations based on caste, colour and religion etc. She said that the youth need spiritual guidance more today than any other time as they are always in search of a true ‘Guru’ who can guide them to find peace of mind. Sr. Sangma appealed to the Church leaders to make elaborate effort to look into the need of the youth for their spiritual growth in order to train young mind to the path of righteousness and truthfulness.

The afternoon session on Thursday was dedicated to the youth café in which bishops along with the youth delegates were placed in eight groups to discuss issues affecting the youth of the country. The aim of the youth café was to create an atmosphere of discussion for the Church leaders to experience rural life at the same time to feel the genuine need of youth. The youth café served an opportunity for the youth to mingle with the church leaders more closely and share their problems. Many of the church leaders paid attention to the genuine needs of the youth and assured the youth that in coming days of the Plenary Assembly their concerns would be given priority of discussion.