Youth Ministry Within the Church

The Catholic Times has a column by a video-producing member of the laity who wants readers to understand what Catholic youths think about what is happening in the Church in Korea and many other parts of the world.

Many parishes have lost youth groups, and finding young people at Mass isn't easy anymore. However, many young people have never left the church. Young people still wonder who God is and long to quench their spiritual thirst. I have seen many young people praying quietly in a church near their workplace or while traveling; I have also seen young people who, while on a package tour to Europe, detour the church to ensure they receive the Eucharist. Amidst all this, we must prepare for and hold the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day (WYD). We are now in a situation where we must invite countless young people to the center of the church.

We are walking together on the journey called Synodalitas. Although the Synod will end this year, Pope Francis constantly brings out the synodal spirit defined by the Second Vatican Council and applies it to various parts of the church. The 2027 Seoul WYD also shares this context. It contains a bold will to invite young people with the synodal spirit, train young leaders, and further change our country's youth ministry paradigm.

However, the vertical mindset is firmly entrenched in the Korean church. The image of coming down from the priests causes many problems. There is a division of classes among believers, and young people are always perceived as less-trained members and lower-class members of the church. As a result, young people are always placed in a position where they have to be taken care of as socially disadvantaged people on the outskirts of the church, even though they have not left the church. For the Korean church, especially youth ministry, to move forward, this thinking must be mercilessly broken and eliminated.

First, the most important spirit of the Synod, 'equality,' must be established in our church. Equality is the concept that we are the people of God who have the same dignity and stand in the same position because we were baptized. It also emphasizes that we must respect and listen to each other because the Holy Spirit has given us appropriate gifts. Just because we have received the ministry of priesthood or are pursuing a consecrated life, we do not live a better life or are in a higher position. However, we should not treat each other carelessly by claiming equality. We should look at each person as the people of God themselves and respect them.

Pope Francis said at the 2019 Panama WYD, "Young people are not God's future, but God's present." At the 2023 Lisbon WYD, he emphasized, "There is a place for all of you in the Church." As we prepare for the 2027 Seoul WYD on our journey together, the church community must not invite young people to participate but rather make them the 'subjects'. The people of God must be present in all areas that lay the foundation, build the framework, and add flesh to the community.

In this process, members should be nurtured together without distinction between the positive and the negative so that the young can see God through the priest, and the priest can see God through the young. Above all, I hope it will be a journey where we can truly feel the breath of faith with the young people rather than just bringing in methodology from the synod spirit. The young people are waiting for change.