Transcript Role-of-the-Clergy-in-Youth

The PCP II and the
PREFERENTIAL OPTION for the
YOUTH ( The Role of the Clergy)
REV. FR. JESSE T.
GUILLERGAN, JR.
PCPII Pastoral Priority 7 - Journeying
with the Youth.
The youth are the most numerous in our
population. They are some of the most active
workers of renewal in the Church and in
society. But they are also most vulnerable to
the negative developments in our rising
technological society. We affirm their gifts
and immense capacity to pursue the
Christian ideal in their lives and in society. We
shall dialogue with them, enter their world,
and journey with them toward the maturity of
Christ to which we all aspire.
Philippine Population
Year
Population
2000
81,159,648
2001
82,841,520
2002
84,525,640
2003
84,619,976
2004
86,241,696
2005
87,857,472
2006
89,468,680
2007
91,077,288
2008
96,061,680
2009
97,976,600
2010
99,900,176
2011
101,833,936
2012
103,775,002
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of August 23, 2014
Philippine Population by
Religion
Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic
80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%,
Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo
2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%,
unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000
census)
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in
this page is accurate as of August 23, 2014
CBCP Directory
YEAR 2012-2013:
a. TOTAL NO. OF POPULATION:
96,871,813
b. TOTAL NO. CATHOLICS:
76,167,880
c. TOTAL NO. OF PRIESTS:
9,040
Catholic Population 552,729
Number of Youth
Number of Adults
Number of Children
Number of Clergy
Number of Religious
219130
162808
170659
83
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February 1991, the Catholic Bishops ,
Priests and Laity of the Philippines,
gathered in what goes down in history
as the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines (PCP II), noted: “As for the
youth, in 1989 there were 8.2 million of
them between ages 18-24 or about
14% of the total population” (PCP II,
no. 383)
The Preferential Option for the
Youth,”
“The greatest resource of the Church for
evangelization are the young people of
the Philippines… They are hungry for
Christ and his word. They need to be
evangelized. Unfortunately we do not
reach the majority of our young people
by catechetical instruction or the
Sunday liturgy”. (PCP II, no. 650)
We need to become the “Church of
the youth.” Regardless of our ministry,
mission and interest, we are called to
minister to the young. In whatever
missionary field we are engaged in –
parish setting, schools, formation –
our determination and conviction,
our occupation and exertion have to
cover a preferential option for the
young.
“Since youth constitutes a large
and dynamic portion of the laity,
the youth ministry should be
assured of the fullest attention and
highest priority in every way by all
in the Church.”
(PCP II, Decrees, Art. 50, #2)
The challenge of discipleship - of
following Jesus - is at the heart of the
Church’s mission. All ministry with
adolescents must be directed toward
presenting young people with the Good
News of Jesus Christ and inviting and
challenging them to become His
disciples….If we are to succeed, we must
offer young people a spiritually
challenging and world shaping vision that
meets their hunger for the chance to
participate in a worthy adventure.
Priests need To empower young people to live as
disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
To draw young people to responsible
participation in the life, mission, and work of
the Catholic faith community.
To foster the total personal and spiritual
growth of each young person.
It’s about discipleship
Empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus
Christ in our world today. They hunger to hear the
Good News that finds response in discipleship. As
their companions on this spiritual journey, by...
proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through
witness and word to young people.
enabling young people to live as disciples
through their involvement in service, ministry, and
leadership opportunities.
providing young people the faith skills for
discipleship.
It’s about connection
Draw young people to responsible participation in the life,
mission, and work of the faith community. Young people
have a hunger for connection, to be in relationship, and to
really belong. Family, peers, school, youth serving
organizations, and Church are primary connections for young
people, by...
being a ‘youth friendly’ community that welcomes young
people, values their participation, and calls forth their gifts.
integrating young people into the liturgical, pastoral, and
ministerial life of the parish community.
creating opportunities for young people to enter into
healthy relationships of trust and respect with their peers and
with adults.
promoting Catholic identity and religious literacy through
programs of adolescent catechesis.
It’s about gifts and growth
Foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each
young person. The Church must strive to surround young
people with the best possible external scaffolds - networks
of caring relationships of family, school, peers, and other
adults - while young people are developing their internal
psychological and spiritual backbone - their values, life
skills, commitments, and moral compass, by...
enabling young people to develop a personal
relationship with Jesus.
actively supporting positive youth development and
fostering healthy values and life skills.
supporting families of young people by providing
resources, programs, and services.
providing opportunities to experience and express
caring, service, and compassion for others.
The Need for Priests in Youth Ministry
A Priest in-charge of the Youth Ministry
who will journey with the young people
of the parish. Who will serve as Spiritual
guide to the young members of the
parish. And will over-see the youth
formations and programs. The Priests
and Youth Leaders are called to share
in leadership to help make youth
ministry happen.
An Open Letter to Priests
by Young Catholics
Dear Fathers,
We are writing this letter to you today because we
have some things we want to say to you. Some
things are easier to say than others, but here you go.
Before that, though, a HUGE thank you. Thank you
for having the courage to say yes to your countercultural vocation. We are forever grateful and will
never be able to repay you. We’re also grateful for
your energy and enthusiasm you have for us as
young Catholics.
There are few people that value us for who we are
and encourage us toward greatness and holiness
as you do.
But as you are well aware, times are tough for our
generation of Catholics in America. Numbers of
weekly Mass attenders are small these days. Some
studies show that only 10% of young adults in their
twenties are attending Mass regularly. This is very
concerning, to say the least.
With that, here are some things we want to share
with you. You may know this already as some of
you are from our generation. But we want to share
anyway, just in case you don’t know.
First, we love orthodoxy.
We’re hungry for the truth. We’re hungry for sane logic,
common sense, and Jesus Christ.
A huge number of us love the traditions of the Church
that our parents and Grandparents didn’t like so
much. You know why? Because practices that are
distinctly Catholic help us stand out in a world that is
obsessed with mediocrity, fitting in, and being
“normal.”
The practices that make us distinctly Catholic – like
frequent confession, adoration, the Rosary, and even
the regular use of incense at Mass – in a mysterious
way, these things help build up our identity as
Catholics in the world.
While you may think there’s too much of it, we think
there is far too little.
Second, prayer is tough for us.
The world we grew up in is a world unlike anything
you can ever imagine. We don’t remember a time
without the Internet in our homes. Our attention
spans are embarassingly short, and silence is
almost non-existent in our day-to-day lives.
We never learned how to just sit and ‘waste time’
with God.
Pray with us. Offer more times for adoration. Teach
us the prayers of the Church, like the liturgy of the
hours, adoration, and the countless novenas. We
are thirsty for this stuff, and truly desire to make our
parishes houses of prayer.
Third, we need help dealing with porn, sex, and
relationships.
The culture of death is here, and although we know
Christ is triumphant in the end, it’s winning in a lot of
our lives right now. We need help, and we need it fast.
More then confession, we need more resources and support to
combat the slavery of porn. Let’s be honest here: a majority of
guys in our generation are hooked on it.
It’s not enough to tell us in confession that we need to pray more,
use more blockers, or do something nice for somebody else as a
penance. Those are great, but the problem is still getting worse.
What we need are people in our lives who will help us fight it.
It’s embarrassing to ask for help, or to talk about this outside of
the confessional, so please start organizing programs, groups,
and mobilizing men and women who are steadfast to engage
our generation for mentorship and spiritual direction. If you don’t,
who will?
Fourth, don’t be afraid to teach and preach (NFP).
The Church’s teaching about sex and sexuality
is good news. A recent study showed that a majority
of Catholic women still don’t agree with the Church
about certain aspects of the teaching on
artificial contraception. However, those same
women are open to hearing why the church
teaches what she does.
We’re used to hearing about sex, but from all the
wrong sources. The Church’s wisdom is saving
grace, and we want more of it.
Fifth, preach more about Jesus, and that he is alive.
So many of us went to Catholic schools, but so
few of us realize that Jesus is actually, really alive.
This is concerning, because this is why we are
Christians.
This basic fact about our faith is not known. Given
the fact that most Catholics learn about God from
the ten minute homily, which often leave more to
be desired in terms of content, we can see why.
Lastly, we need more opportunities for the sacraments
in general.
It’s difficult for anybody of any generation to make
the 3:30pm confession time on Saturday afternoon,
especially for those of us who have two jobs and a
young family to take care of. Appointments are great,
too, but having at least one more opportunity once in
a while would be ideal.
We know, you’re busy too. But if the sacraments
actually are what we say they are, then they need to
be more widely available. The world is quenching us,
and we’re thirsty for the Fountain of Life.
- See more at: http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2012/09/21/openletter-to-priests-by-young-catholics/#sthash.1Kr0MMxJ.dpuf
"This is what is needed:
a Church for young people, which will know how to
speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire
enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the
strength of the Eucharist; a Church which will know
how to invite and welcome the person who seeks a
purpose for which to commit his whole
existence; a Church which is not afraid
to require much, after having given
much; which does not fear asking
from young people the effort of a
noble and authentic adventure,
such
such as that of the following of
the Gospel."
St. Pope John Paul II
1995 World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Today, we need a Church capable of
walking at people's side, of doing more than
simply listening to them; a Church which
accompanies them on their journey; a
Church able to make sense of the 'night'
contained in the flight of so many of our
brothers and sisters from Jerusalem;
a Church which realizes that the
reasons why people leave also
contain reasons why they can
eventually return. But we need
to know how to interpret, with
courage, the larger picture.
Pope Francis