by Paolo Josef L. Blando
I am grateful to Fr. Louie Guades, CMF for inviting me to take part in AEYG 2015. Being involved in the preparations for this youthful venture got me really excited. This brings to mind the wonderful experiences I had with the youth ministry in various capacities for more than 10 years now (beginning in my high school days). The experiences I have had in the ministry were my most passionate and rewarding life engagements. I have been involved with the Parish Youth Ministry in our local church, the F.I. Youth, the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, the Federation of National Youth Organizations and the Claretian Peace Weavers. My involvement in these various facets of youth organizations helped define my niche and ministry in the community and in the Church. It was not surprising that my discernment to the religious life was heavily influenced by my profound experience in the “youth ministry”.
The Young and the Church
My involvement in the church dramatically began in high school. Catechists from our parish would come to our school once a week to conduct Catechism classes. Knowing the faith led to worship. During my senior years, I would attend evening masses as long as my schedule and resources permit. Long did I know that this would eventually lead me to the Church…more than just the structure and its hierarchy…my thirst led me to people who were willing to journey with me…my fellow young believers.
Wanting to deepen my relationship with the Church, I joined the Parish Youth Ministry. The sense of belongingness was its remarkable feature among others. It never felt that good to be engaged with young people who were passionate with the faith and who shared my ideals in life. The Church has become our point of convergence. It was a safe haven for troubled minds and hearts. Christ became more human in the faces of those I met in the ministry…the compassion, companionship, care, and concern we shared made the Church a vibrant community where no one was left behind…where everything is for the common good and where every single youth counts.
With my initial experience, I did not miss any youth formation activities even when these coincided with our exams. I found that seeking God first will be beneficial not only for me but also for my fellow youth in the long run.
I will never forget my experiences with the youth ministry since it gave me fresh insight on how the Church is relevant and responsive to the needs of her members whether physical or spiritual. These same experiences influenced me when I took the challenge of being a lay missionary volunteer for 3 years and shaped me as a high school Christian Living Education (CLE) teacher.
The Youth in Today’s World: the Challenge
I believe that our young people today need that same sense of belongingness I myself longed for years back. Our young people need a secure space to express this need…and eventually be heard. They have stories to tell about their “Christ Encounters.” They also need to be affirmed that whatever they are going through in life, they do not have to worry walking alone…that the Church is a co-journeyer and a companion in the streets of life as they ultimately search for life’s meaning and purpose.
How then can we lead our young people to the Church when everything around them might be pointing to another direction or to a pseudo-reality that is not of Christ? How can we make Christ’s message of love, forgiveness and renewal relevant to the lives of the young? These questions pointed out to need for concrete mechanisms in witnessing the faith to today’s youth
There had been several attempts to inculturate/ appropriate the faith in the current youth sub-culture by translating the Bible with words that appeal to the young and their context, by promoting alternative Christian music and literature, by writing a Catechism that speaks directly to the youth (thanks to the YouCat), and by developing softwares, applications and games to get young people interested in the faith. Though seriously, we have yet to conclude whether these interventions were able to produce and generate a critical impact on young people. More attempts are being done since we believe that human ingenuity and creativity is limitless and that the work of the Spirit can never be underestimated.
AEYG and the “Cloud” – A New Spring Time in the Ministry of the Young
It is in this context that AEYG wishes to address. Aided by the latest innovations and technology, the organizers of AEYG, believe that the faith of our young…our digital natives… can be nourished by means of the combination of multimedia, social networking and digital resources. These means and resources will not only include doctrinal components of the faith but also young people’s experiences of the faith purposefully developed, digitally captured and shared online. Hence the birth of AEYG’s theme: “Meeting Jesus in the Cloud”… “faithing” via the internet or cyberspace.
More than just the development of digital tools and resources, AEYG aims to become a gathering of young people in Asia where the faith is experienced and translated in resources to help the youth discover Jesus as the well-spring of life and meaning. AEYG also hopes to generate among its participants and observers an authentic encounter with the Lord through His Words and Spirit that we pray become a reality. It also hopes to raise an awareness among young people to become more mature citizens of the digital world and become more responsible users of digital resources. It also serves as a fitting venue for training young leaders and ministers to cater to the needs of our digital natives.
May AEYG become a new spring time and a season of grace to the ministry of the young not only for the Claretian family but to the rest of the Church in Asia and in the world.
“Catch the AEYG 2015 fever today! …until we meet in the Cloud.”
Mr. Paolo Josef L. Blando finished a degree in Bachelor of Liberal Arts major in Philosophy from Christ the King Mission Seminary (Divine Word Seminary) and a degree in Master of Arts in Education major in Religious Education from Miriam College. He also served as a lay missionary volunteer of the F.I. Congregation from 2002-2005. He is presently the high school assistant principal for academic affairs of Claret School of Quezon City. He is a member of the Asia Pacific Network for International Education and Values Education – Philippines. He is also a member of the Formation Team of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines. In 2011, he represented the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines together with a Claretian student in the International Young Catholic Students (IYCS) – Global Formation Session and World Council held in New Delhi, India.
