Around 20 youth, most of them from Kandisi Community have met at "Maji Mazuri Secondary School", in Entimikomi to think about their role in the community. The first day, with Father Peter, they have tryed to discover their own reality and how to put this reality at the service of the Church. With Father Stan, the point have been "How to build tomorrow?"
Here is the text of this second point:
“YOUTH ARE THE SUN
OR THE STORM OF TOMORROW”
Saint
Luigi Orione, said that Youth are the sun or the storm of tomorrow. I think in
this historical moment in which we are living, young people are both the sun as
well as the storm, and also you will agree with me, not only of tomorrow but
even of today and now. We the youth, you and I, now more than ever, we feel the
need to have strong certainty. We need not only to know where are we going? But
also how are we going? And why are we going, isn't. We want sincerity, freedom,
justice and peace. We want by our side some people who can walk and work
with us, listen to us and watch over us. Just like Jesus with the disciples of
Emmaus as we have just read in today's Gospel.
Youth
wants people who can give them the real freedom, which means responsibility,
love, truth and commitment for going good to all, doing good always, and never
harm no one. I remember when I was in Italy last year, Pope Francis was
answering to some elders complaining about the young generation, saying that
the new generation is corrupt, sinful and so one. Pope Francis answered saying
that this generation is only living according to her time. In fact, young
people today have an inexhaustible thirst for Christ. We, you and I are
yearning for Christ, isn't? Only that for some time we make choice of wrong
means to look for Christ. Many models we use to choose are really not a models
to be followed. We feel a thirst for joyful witnesses who have met Jesus
and bet on him all their lives.
Being
like you, I know that we want a Church, a Community and a parish which still on
the ground, and ever closer to your requirements. And you are right to ask so.
Only
that we don't have to forget that the Church as association, family and
community is also requiring something from you. She wants your courage, your
energy and your strength to build her future and ensure this future. You are
the sun or the storm of tomorrow. What you will decide, likewise will be the
“tomorrow” of our Mother Church.
First
of all we must know that the great and fundamental principle for everyone and
especially for you today is to "choose life" (Deuteronomy 30: 15-20).
You have before you life and death: choose life. And it appears that the answer
must be natural. Or not? We want all present here to live isn’t? At the same
time we need also to choose that our Mother the Church may live also.
Of all various viewpoints of the teenagers in
today's church, one thing cannot be ignored. You are the future of any church,
communities and associations. You are the future of the world.
The youth plays the role of supporting the adult
church members, teaching them (as young learns from old, so old learn from
young), and assuming the responsibilities of the church when they are older.
There is
an expression that the church is
always one generation away from extinction. It's simply because the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
But what does this means really for us, youth of Holy Spirit Parish of Kandisi?
What does it means that you are the future of your Community, of your Church
and of your Society?
You are
first of all called to be an active presence in Our Church!
This
means be there when the Church or the community needs you but also ask the
community to assist you to take the place which is yours in the midst of her.
You are
also called to be witnesses of hope and joy in a world that counts on you.
Pope
Emeritus Benedict XVI was telling the youth that: "Youth is a special time
of hope because it looks to the future with a whole range of expectations. When
we are young we cherish ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when
decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition."
It is also called to be the best
age where we will thirst for Jesus, yearn to see him and meet him. In our daily
realities, where is Jesus found? Where do you meet Jesus, you, youth of Holy
Spirit of Kandisi?
Benedict
XVI was telling once the youth: "My dear young friends, I have in mind so
many of your contemporaries who have been wounded by life. They often suffer
from personal immaturity caused by dysfunctional family situations, by
permissive and libertarian elements in their education, and by difficult and
traumatic experience."
He
added: "Yet, even for those who find themselves in difficult situations,
having been led astray by bad role models, the desire for true love and authentic
happiness is not extinguished.
"But
how can we speak of this hope to those young people? We know that it is in God
alone that a human person finds true fulfillment. The main task for us all is that
of a new evangelization aimed at helping younger generations to rediscover the
true face of God, who is Love."
This invitation is also actual for you, my dear
friends of Kandisi Parish. We are all call to be missionaries of the Good News
to one another. There is a need to commit ourselves for building a Parish
Community where people will feel the presence of the youth and where you, young
generation will really let know to each and everyone that you are the future,
the suns or the storms of tomorrow. We have always a need either of Suns or of
Storms. No matter who you may be, you have a responsibility in your community.
And be sure, if you are not doing it, no one will be there to do it for you.
You are all important and the Church and our Parish count on you all.
May
I beg you, please never run away from your responsibility!
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