What Needs to Change?

In the Catholic Times, a lay missioner working within the Korean military gives us his thoughts on the young people and the empty pews they no longer frequent.

Many thoughts arise when he looks at an empty church without young people. With interest, he considers the pastoral considerations and efforts to call young people to the church or keep them from leaving. He wants to make a few suggestions based on his experience of 15 years of providing catechetical education for new believers and re-education of parishioners, special forces, soldiers, officers, and military families at the Military Ordinariate.

Some people refer to today's young people as a 'fragmented individualistic generation' that seeks "what works and pleasure" and say they are experiencing a serious "post-religious phenomenon." Is this true? 

Near the church in the Military Ordinariate where he works, there is a Protestant church and a Buddhist temple beside each other. In the case of trainees, more than 120 people attend the Protestant church during Sunday service, about 80 attend the temple, and about 20 attend the Catholic Church. Compared to 15 years ago, when he started his military mission work, there was not much difference in the numbers; today, the number of people attending Mass at church has decreased significantly.

Why is that? These days, young people are interested in social order changes related to equal opportunity and inequality, the climate crisis, sustainable future communities, and the common good. This means they have retained their religious faith. So why are they absent from Mass? In rare cases, there are cases where they feel the solemnity and holiness of Mass and decide to receive Baptism themselves. However, many young people think that Mass is boring, uncomfortable, and just a religious ceremony that has nothing to do with their lives. He doesn't see them experiencing salvation from the Lord.

The core of the faith of Resurrection is that everything is 'renewed' every day. "I prefer a church that is hurt, wounded, and defiled by going out on the streets rather than a church that is closed off and unhealthy, only caring about its comfort. I do not want a church that is desperate to be the center but caught up in a web of obsession and procedures. If something truly disturbs us and torments our conscience, it is because so many of our brothers and sisters live without strength, without the comfort and light of communion with Jesus Christ." (Evangelii Gaudium, 49)

This is the 'new wine' Pope Francis gave us ten years ago. However, ten years later, we are still stuck in the 'old wineskins' of volatile self-centeredness, cafeteria faith for self-satisfaction, and obligatory Sunday attendance at Mass. If we cannot experience the fullness of grace by breaking away from 'the old way' and the church cannot reverse its decline and restore its dynamism, shouldn't we be looking for new wine?

Many young people say that they always feel sidelined in the church and that the church is not willing to listen to their problems, which is why they turn away. Instead of teaching and demanding, there is a need for an attitude of learning and acceptance, creating space for them to participate. Therefore, we must also ask the young people: Can you not make suggestions? Can you demand your own space? Have you tried? If you try and it doesn't work, then you can leave. I want to see young people who find their role as church owners.

Young people! If you think you will share, care, and sacrifice after you have received something, the opportunity will never come. Just as 3% of salt makes the entire sea water salty, love this moment and be the salt within the church!