This is a brief summary of some of the thoughts in the interview. Youth ministry is said to be in crisis. Teenagers say, "After graduating from Sunday school, they won’t go to church anymore," and they do what they say when they graduate from secondary school Sunday school. The director makes clear that children not coming to church once they are adults is not something new. Rather, the church was taking this for granted because of its long history.
The "Guidebook for Korean Catholic Youth Pastoral Care" published last year by the Bishops’ Conference redefines the concept of youth pastoral care while analyzing the causes of youth pastoral crisis and suggests the direction of pastoral care required by the times. The church officially diagnosed the youth pastoral situation as a crisis from its research.
Was there a reason to create a guidebook? There has been no substantial change in youth pastoral care, but at least in the Korean Catholic Church, the release of this guidebook is a change. If you look at the 'Guideline', it was determined that the long-standing debate without practice is the biggest cause of youth ministry not being dynamic.
There are problems with pastoral systems and programs. The debate over the causes of youth pastoral crisis has been going on for a long time, but why hasn't it changed? There are a lot of problems with youth pastoral care in the church, and the contents are outlined in the guidebook. But how much you agree with it is another matter. There is a big difference in consciousness between the priests who have been engaged in youth pastoral care and the priests who have been in charge of youth pastoral care.
The reality of youth pastoral care through his study
the director learned important facts. Children go to church because their mothers and grandmothers tells them to go, and even children who work hard at Sunday school say that after Sunday school, they will no longer come to church.
The crisis of youth pastoral care as seen by Pope Francis emphasizes joy in faith, but why isn't this the reality? One does not find the meaning for living a life of faith in the here and now. Researchers have conceptualized this as a 'personal encounter with God'. One is not happy because one does not have a personal encounter with God. After reading the Pope's book, he was convinced of the credibility of the book's conclusions. In the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis Christ Lives to young people the story of accompaniment with God is given, and it can be seen that this concept of 'personal encounter with God' is in line with what the universal Church is talking about.
If we understand that Jesus is with us all the time, but we do not recognize it, and that the failure to meet God personally is the reason why we are not happy even after a long life of faith, the answer is simple. He is convinced that knowing that Jesus is with them and nurturing this personal encounter with God will change the way children accept their faith. Consequently we have hope for youth ministry.
There are many people who are not positive about this. They've already been with teenagers and it didn't work out. However, examine closely, you are not accompanying them, but are accompanied by them.
"The handbook finds a key principle in youth pastoral care, especially in 'the image of Jesus who was with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and became the gospel to them'. It is the presence as a companion for evangelization. The Church hopes that priests, religious and laity, following the example of Jesus, will actively participate in the art of companionship with youth.
The handbook provided a great direction for a "personal encounter with God" and is useful for learning how to view youth and how to approach pastoral care. However, the specific action to be taken remains the task.
It can be difficult if we go into the problem of method specifically. When the director asked the priests if they had experienced God as a teenager, no one answered yes. It's difficult to convey what one should know but never experienced. But is it really that difficult? Those who have a personal encounter with God among those who live a religious life can tell us. All you need to do is to meet someone who is devout and makes you want to be like them. There are probably a few people like that in the parish. The problem will be solved when the youth meet with those who have experienced personal
encounters with God—those alive with a strong faith life. Our parish offers a community experience of praying together and a program that connects various people in the parish to meet children.
The key is to make me feel that Jesus is with me in my life.
That's why Synodalitas is so important. The handbook describes it as an 'educational pastoral community', but the pastoral care of youth should not be left only to catechists, religious and priests. The entire parish must be involved.
Lastly, the director mentioned what he would like to emphasize about youth ministry. We talk a lot about paying attention to the youth, but the church is not youth-friendly and welcoming. He wants to do a proper research on youth. In fact, the church doesn't do research in other fields well, but if they don't understand the youth of today, what will happen in the future? In Europe, there are some priests who are worried that the church will be sold because there are no believers. Please, before it's too late, he hopes the church will pay attention to research that is in the guidebook to understand young people, and to prepare for the future.
