Daijiworld Media Network—Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 7: “Youth Ministry is often interpreted as people working for the youth.  This is only one side of the story”, said Fr Divya Paul, director, Bangalore Archdiocesan Youth, to participants at the two-day conference of Karnataka Media and Youth Commission Members that concluded in Bellary on Wednesday August 5. 

He said, “Youth must also be given opportunities to minister to others with their various talents and potentials. There is great potential among our youth in various fields and such potential must be used for the building up of the Church, both locally and universally”. 

Elaborating on the four-fold ministry of the Youth Commission, Fr Paul said, “Youth Ministry should cater to the youth, with the youth, for the youth, and by the youth. This four-fold ministry means responding to their needs, working with adults to fulfill the common responsibilities in the Church mission, giving opportunities for youth to exercise their own ministry for the service of others, and interpreting the needs of the youth”.

He called on the youth to adapt to Jesus’ style of functioning where He ‘reached out’ in various situations to various people.  “This reaching out should foster the spiritual growth of every young person. Youth Ministry seeks to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community, he added.