That Christ May be Formed in Them - 2012 (BJMM011)
That Christ
May be Formed in Them
Accompanying youth on
their journey of faith
(Prepared by Dr. Edward Edezhath as guidelines for Jesus Youth Formation Plan and released during the Jesus Youth International Leaders Gathering in Rome in October 2012)
1. Accompanying
youth on their journey of faith has been the favored mission of the Jesus
Youth movement and a fine-tuning of the same becomes especially vital in these
changing times. Thoughts on faith formation remain uppermost on our minds today
as the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has announced the Year of Faith, which he
says, will be “a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of
particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith”[1].
For the Jesus Youth movement this signals a Spirit-led next step in its journey
of responding to “the signs of the times”[2]
and reviewing its efforts at nurturing the faith of the new generation.
The
declaration of the year has also been most eagerly welcomed in the Jesus Youth
movement as a God-given opportunity for ‘fostering the graces of the Jubilee’[3].
The recently concluded Jubilee was a time of special grace for everyone in the
movement, during the course of which there were numerous occasions to reflect
on the call and mission of Jesus Youth. Faith formation of the contemporary
generation leading them to a renewed commitment to Christian life and active
mission has been the special charism of the movement. As the Holy Father wants
“this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in
fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope”[4] the Jesus Youth movement also will take time
to rediscover its vision of faith formation in greater clarity and reorder its
formation approaches with clearer focus and efficacy.
JY Formation
in Perspective
2. Informal, grass-root beginnings
gradually creating wider ripples and enduring fruits is at the heart of the
dynamics of Jesus Youth movement. This has been quite true also of the evolution
of the movement’s formation approaches and modules. Listening to the prompting
of the Spirit, shared and developed in faith communities, a variety of faith
sharing and faith building styles have evolved over the past few generations in
Jesus Youth fellowships and ministries. In this manner the movement has tried
its hands on faith formation in a variety of ways, attempting different
approaches eventually giving rise to a number of modules.
In a general sense Christ encounter
and ensuing faith enrichment take place in multipronged ways in the life of the
movement. What are the different approaches to faith building in the movement? i) Faith inspired friendship and informal
contacts; ii) cells, team sittings or such other regular meetings; iii) praise
and worship, Adorations, Eucharist, and other prayer sessions; iv) retreats or
similar ended larger gatherings sometimes called ‘meets’; and, v) more
structured and clearly oriented Jesus Youth formation programs. All these fulfil
the formative mission of the movement in different ways. While all the
previously mentioned faith input approaches are initiatives of more or less
area specific teams enriching the general life of the movement or responding to
particular needs and occasions, Jesus Youth formation programs, in
particular, take shape through a process of comprehensive discernment and teamwork and they have some kind of permanency. A time has come when the whole
movement feels a special need to take a close look at its faith formation programs
and hence in this Year of Faith these formation approaches are being reviewed
in the light of the rich insights from the Magisterium, also taking into
consideration the transformations in the movement and also in the wider society.
3. Jesus Youth formation has borne
rich fruits of personal sanctity and discipline, community upbuilding and
mission initiatives. From its initial beginning as a humble initiative the
movement has spread over many countries and cultures, thanks to these formation
programs. In a number of countries the local church has been blessed with
committed lay leadership, formed through the fellowships and formation modules
of the movement, who readily collaborate and give leadership in the pastoral
life of the Church. Evangelizing moves in different life contexts and a variety
of mission initiatives have come forth, some of them growing into rich
ministries. Over these past years responding to some deep socio-cultural
transformations in the world newer dynamics and formation modules have also been
taken shape in the movement. Surely Jesus Youth formation programs have borne
rich fruits.
4. If these are so successful where
is the need for a review? The river of life, especially the life of a faith
community flows[5]
requiring greater depth and fruits for nourishment and healing. Continuity,
perseverance and on-going deepening are challenges that an effective formation
plan has to address. But sometimes shallow and sporadic faith input becomes the
misfortune of contemporary times. In the case of many, even earnest and
committed Christians, they do not get a chance to go much beyond the initial
encounter after their conversion. And the result is a shallow Christian life in
relation to personal maturity as well as Christian mission. Yet expectations
are high about them, leading to personal frustration and unkind reproach from
others. All these point to the need for a comprehensive formation approach in
Jesus Youth movement with greater clarity, proper continuity and clearer
benchmarking.
In the early days of the movement
the main focus was on ‘initiation retreats’ that led people to a personal
encounter with the Lord which launched them to a new life and commitment. And
occasional ‘conventions’ that brought together these ‘initiated’ ones together
gave opportunity for a wider vision and some kind of ‘enkindling of spirit’. But
gradually looking at poor numbers that sustained in the newfound commitment
there was serious reflection in the movement on other means of effective follow
up. This gradually took the form of personal guidance called ‘eldering’ and a
variety of formation programs. The movement in general has travelled far
ahead from the thinking that gathering people for a retreat and bringing down a
skillful preacher would do the magic of faith and the only further need is to
repeat the retreat as often as possible. In this context the discussion in the
Letter to Hebrews on the need for “leaving the elementary doctrines of Christ
and go on to maturity”[6] is important,
as “it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been
enlightened … and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit”[7]. The
present reflection and initiative on a faith formation will offer guidance for
the movement to chart clearer path for faith formation and to bring awareness
on the need for guidance beyond the encounter and for a Spirit-led sustenance
for growth in faith.
Characteristics
of the emerging Jesus Youth formation plan
5.
Reflecting on the new approaches to faith proclamation in contemporary times,
the Lineamenta of the Synodal gathering on New Evangelization speaks on the need
for a process of discernment. “The process of evangelization became a process
of discernment. Proclamation first requires moments of listening, understanding
and interpretation.” [8] Over the past
few years at different levels of the movement a process of discernment has been
going on about the ‘what and how’ of Jesus Youth faith formation programs. Numerous
insights have been shared, but the following were expressed as the significant
requirements for Jesus Youth formation programs, all of which have been there
in the formation approaches of yester years, but now needed to be consciously
cultivated as part of the streamlined formation process of the movement.
i.
A formation plan. Faith formation is the
distinguishing charism of the Jesus Youth movement and hence a commonly agreed
formation process with a longer vision and clearer stages of personal growth is
a great need. This is not a few retreats or input sessions but a streamlined
life accompaniment in and by a community, making possible a mature lifestyle
with the Lord. A formation plan has already taken shape in the movement with
five stages or phases of formation.
ii.
Specific commitments marking the stages in formation. In
each phase of formation, the person is prepared for serious decision and pledge,
which will be a deepening renewal of the baptismal promise allowing a deeper
infilling of the Holy Spirit. This formal commitment will also mark the
person’s entry into the next phase faith formation as well as deeper commitment
in the life of the movement.
iii.
Jesus Youth identity or a person’s membership in it is
linked to the formation stage. With its characteristic joy and informality, defining
who specifically is a member of the movement has been difficult. Loosely,
participation in Jesus Youth fellowship was the norm. With the newly emerging
formation plan who a Jesus Youth is will be closely connected to at what phase
of formation the person is.
iv.
Grass-roots formation. The vision of the movement is that every
faith community should become a center of building up of a lifestyle, faith catechesis
and proclamation. In the past formation programs were organized by a higher
team, accessible only to a limited number in the movement. The present change
is a shifting of formation focus to the foundations and making formation
available to everyone in the movement.
v.
Comprehensive modules and topics. Faith formation of the
movement is all about helping a person understand what one believes and offer
help to live it. It helps a person to live fully a life in the Spirit and
search and live the will of the Lord. But it has to be much more. It is the
movement’s formative path to equip a person to be wholesome individual, active
Catholic, committed Jesus Youth and responsible citizen. Progress in personal
holiness, emotional maturity and intellectual alertness, warmth in
relationships, a healthy objectivity and detachment, developing spiritual and
personal effectiveness habits, career and vocation guidance, team functioning,
social leadership, mission formation and a variety of other formative
approaches will have to be dealt with in this long journey of formation.
vi.
Preparing formators. The movement is in need of equipped
formators and formation teams at all levels. Effective formation to a large
extent relates to the life and culture of formators. Today the movement needs
formators having knowledge that He came to call sinners[9], with
compassion that leads to earnest prayer[10], with
trust in the often surprising work of the Spirit[11], being a
faithful and wise steward using one’s gifts for others[12] and
undertaking the task of speaking the truth in love[13] so that
each of the formees will be formed in the image of the Lord.
vii.
Formation in the spirit of communion. The culture of the faith community
is linked to faith formation. The model of the Trinity and inspiration of the
life of the early Church[14] is the
backdrop of faith formation. Friendship and joyful fellowship are strong Jesus
Youth characteristics, and this should make the difference in JY formation. As the
formation of the movement gets more defined, fellowship of those who have taken
a commitment in the movement needs to be clearer in order to bear the fruits
for formation. “JY Household” will serve this need.
viii.
Formation leading to mission. There is a fresh conviction in the
movement that enduring mission requires formation and genuine faith formation
will lead to fruitful mission. The movement is already rich in mission
initiatives, but quite a number of them are short lived after the initial
fervour. The proposed formation should help the individuals and communities to
be more rooted in faith so that there will be enduring fruits of good
ministries and personal initiatives.
The foregoing reflections have been
crystalized into a somewhat clear formation plan using which the movement will
accompany a person that approaches it, offering sustained guidance from the initial
phase of faith life towards greater growth in maturity in Christ.
Towards a 5
phased Jesus Youth Faith Formation plan
6. The journey of faith is also a
walk in God’s love. The movement comes across a person initially as a seeker
for a fuller life, often indirectly asking “what must I do . . .”[15]. In this
first Contact Phase the movement attempts to introduce the person to a loving
and caring God, guiding them to an encounter with and an experiential knowledge
of the Lord. This encounter sets them off on the second Companion Phase when the
person receives help to walk in God’s love which should lead them to a desire
for a more definite commitment. The discipleship commitment that follows makes
the person a full-fledged participant in the life of the movement which also
launches him or her to the third phase called Committed Phase. In this phase
the formee is challenged to ‘loving God’ or actively responding to God’s love.
A missionary life of sharing God’s
love is the active life to which every Jesus Youth is called. Hence those in
the Committed Phase who opt for it receive further guidance and they take a
missionary commitment, which leads them to the fourth Confirmed Phase. Here the
stress is on sharing the love of God. The
fifth, Covenant Phase envisages the setting apart of certain well-formed and
mature Jesus Youth to form others in the work of God’s love.
7. This process of faith formation
is a spiritual journey with a phased guidance and a crossing of threshold to
enter each phase. It is interesting to find an image of this in the layered
‘court’ arrangement of the ancient Jewish ‘tabernacle’ starting with the ‘Court
of Gentiles’ leading finally to ‘the Holy of Holies’. In the Lineamenta of the
Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization the Pope’s words are referred to as he
talks on the need of this phased leading of today’s generation: “I think that
today too the Church should open a sort of “Court of the Gentiles” in which
people might in some way latch on to God, without knowing him and before
gaining access to his mystery, at whose service the inner life of the Church
stands.”[16]
The movement of the people of Old Testament from the Court of Gentiles passing
through the Inner Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies becomes an image
of the spiritual journey of a young person from the Contact Phase through
Companion, Commitment phases to the Confirmed phase pointing towards the
Covenant phase. Each court was separated by a door and passing the door was a
significant step in one’s progress in holiness. In the present plan the
commitment ceremony or a solemn pledge will mark the transition from one stage
of spiritual journey to another. Perhaps a major departure from the OT image to
contemporary reality is that in the former the journey of holiness was thought
to be going away from wider society and the world, but in the contemporary
faith formation a Jesus Youth is equipped to go out into the world as a witness
to be the light and leaven in the wider world.
8. With a view to help a person
journey effectively though their pilgrimage of faith Jesus Youth movement
envisages a five-phased faith instruction plan, lending help to grow in
holiness and mission. These phases are: i) Contact Phase, ii) Companion Phase,
iii) Committed Phase, iv) Confirmed Phase, and v) Covenant Phase. Here someone
may ask, why think of phases when so far we had been thinking of faith content
and what content to cover in a program. These surely are not categories of
people, but generalized stages of a person’s walk with the Lord and progress in
the life and mission of Jesus Youth movement. This is with a view to provide
multipronged assistance for sustained spiritual growth of a person. Such
clarity is an urgent need of the day not just for the person’s progress in
holiness and mission, but also for the effectiveness of life in the movement as
well as for fulfilling the movement’s specific mission in the Church and
society. To view each of these phases:
i.
Contact Phase is a stage when a person comes to know about
the movement, attracted to its fellowship and becomes aware of the faith journey
possible in the movement. Perhaps more than in any other period, today there is
a need to reach out and to say “Come”[17] in a
non-threatening manner to those in need of Christ’s love. How does Jesus Youth
offer this call to a newcomer? Friendly contacts by those who are active in the
movement, encouragement by well-wishers, some of the contact programs like
‘come and see sessions’, ‘encounter programs’, art and culture events, social
outreaches, etc. often welcome people to begin a journey with the movement. In
a newcomer the movement finds a seeker with a desire for a closer relationship
with God and also with a need for loving fellowship. To
meet this need he will be invited to Jesus Youth fellowships or prayer groups
and also to some orientation sessions. After a time of initial walk, the movement
will invite the person to an Encounter Session which will provide ‘Conversion
Experience’ or “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”. This first commitment to the Lord
or renewal of Baptism becomes a turning point in the person’s life, which in
turn launches one into an active companionship with the Lord as well as with
the movement. This becomes a milestone and will lead the person to the next
phase in faith formation.
ii. Companion Phase finds person’s gradual growth in relationship with the Lord and
getting introduced to the life and culture of the movement. This is a period of
a newfound joy and celebration in life with an experience of a fresh walk in
the Spirit. The joy of praising the Lord finds its fuller expression in a Jesus
Youth prayer group. But doubts, bouts of spiritual dryness and a variety of
temptations will cause setbacks and sometimes make the person a ‘drop out’. The
movement at this phase provides personal support, fellowship and a phased faith
input to help the seed of faith to gradually grow. One is progressively
introduced to the movement’s ‘Itinerary of Holiness’ as well as Jesus Youth
lifestyle. After a period of steady growth in faith as well as in Jesus Youth
fellowship the person will be introduced to the possibility of a regular
commitment in the movement. If one is desirous, one will be enlisted in a
focused formation ending with a solemn commitment ceremony. This pledge is also
towards a regular life in the movement, making the person a full member of
Jesus Youth. And this will take the person to the next phase in the movement.
iii. Committed Phase marks the person’s regular membership in the Jesus Youth movement,
committed to the ‘six pillars’ and participation in its regular fellowship, “JY
Household”. At this stage the person deepens their call to discipleship and is
accountable to the movement and the movement in turn is responsible to guide,
form and support the person. Other than the meetings in the Households,
specially arranged faith input and guidance sessions will help the person grow
in life with the Lord as well as being a member in the movement. Periodic
recommitment will also nourish and sustain this commitment. After a period of
advancement in the walk with the movement the person will be introduced to the
possibility of formally confirming the commitment. If the person is desirous,
they will undergo a guided preparation ending with a formal confirmation of
their commitment, which in turn will lead the Jesus Youth to the next phase of
formation.
iv. Confirmed Phase finds a Jesus Youth set apart for Christian service and mission, and
he or she is helped to assume leadership responsibilities in the movement, the
Church and the world. The call to be sent out as a missionary has a very
specific meaning at this phase. With long period of steady formation and commitment and helped to discover their specific mission and
distinguishing charisms these will provide mature leadership for the movement
as well as for wider society. It is the responsibility of the movement to make
available relevant guidance and faith input responding to the signs of the
times and guidance of the mother Church.
v. Covenant Phase envisages calling and setting apart a few of the mature Confirmed
members for specific responsibilities inside or outside the movement. More than
any initiative by the members this setting apart is a discernment and invitation
by the movement leadership keeping in mind the emerging needs of the movement
and the Church. Equipping them, providing sustained support for a higher call
and ensuring mutual care among these mature ministers become the special
responsibility of the movement.
9. While all tools of character formation,
faith up-building, skill development and mission motivation become relevant in
these phased Jesus Youth faith formation, the Bible and Catechism of the
Catholic Church (CCC) will assume special significance. To study as well as to
live the Word the Church specially recommends the approach of Lectio Divina.
Jesus Youth Prayer provides a very fruitful format of prayer and Bible
reflection for individuals as well as for community. Catechism is surely a rich
source of instruction, as Pope John Paul II remarks:
A catechism should faithfully and systematically present
the teaching of Sacred Scripture, the living Tradition of the Church and the
authentic Magisterium, as well as the spiritual heritage of the Fathers and the
Church's saints, to allow for a better knowledge of the Christian mystery and
for enlivening the faith of the People of God. It should take into account the
doctrinal statements which down the centuries the Holy Spirit has intimated to
his Church. It should also help illumine with the light of faith the new
situations and problems which had not yet emerged in the past[18].
The input from the CCC is to be used at all
phases of the formation giving emphasis on the four different parts of the
Catechism, namely, 1. What Catholics believe and why,
2. How Catholics celebrate the mysteries of the faith. 3. How Catholics are to
live and 4. How they should pray.
The words of Pope
John Paul II find resonance in the objective of the proposed formation plan of
the movement: “One solid cause of hope [for a new springtime of Christian life
in Asia] is the increasing number of better trained, enthusiastic and
Spirit-filled lay people, who are more and more aware of their specific
vocation within the ecclesial community.” [19] The earnest hope of the movement is that this path of guided faith input will result in such enlightened missionaries
in the ecclesial community.
Laying the
foundation for the emerging process of formation
10. In this Year of Faith Jesus
Youth movement discerns a prompting of the Spirit to recast its faith formation
process. Like education faith formation could also be looked upon a single
handed and sporadic effort, of a master forming a disciple at his will. But
Jesus when he formed the Church and sent out his disciples[20] on the
mission of reaching out to the ends of the earth and building others in faith,
envisioned a continuing process of faith formation and a wholesome ecclesial
mission. Today we realize that for a mature and continuing faith formation
process there has to be i) a shared comprehensive vision of formation, ii) people set apart to impart formation, ii)
a defined faith content or clarity on what and how to teach iv) a lively
community and culture forming the context of formation and v) an evangelistic mission
that flows from the formation.
11. With this in background, there
are certain areas that the movement as a whole and its leadership at different
levels, in particular, have to focus on so that this time of Grace will bear
rich fruits of faith in the movement’s life and mission:
a. Building up a vision on
faith formation: Preparing
the movement as well as its leadership at all levels to understand, accept and implement
the new formation approach and all that it implies is the first foundation that
has to be laid. Maybe there is need to convince some on the need for a longer and
clearer plan of formation, without which programs will suit only available
leaders or immediate challenges, seldom ensuring lasting roots or fruits. Over
the years the Jesus Youth movement has crystallized its vision on formation and
the time has come for disseminating the same to different levels in order to
initiate a process of implementing the vision and plan of formation.
b. Preparing formation
teams: Formation teams are not new to the
movement, but in this emerging new approach these teams will have a greater
responsibility and so they will have to be selected and prepared for this task
with a new vision and care. So far, in the movement, formation responsibilities
were shared in the coordinating teams itself. But now the leadership will have
find people who know very well and live the culture and vision of the Jesus
Youth movement, faithful to the mentality of the Church as well as mature in
the dynamics of formation. Networking and providing on-going updating of the
formators will also be the new responsibility of the movement.
c. Getting formation modules ready. The Year of Faith also marks the
Jubilee of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th year of the publication
of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the two important milestones in
clarifying the content of faith formation in these changing times. The Year of
Faith thus signals to the movement the need for growing clarity not only on
what is given during formation but also on the manner and pace of faith
accompaniment. This should result in the preparation of faith formation modules
taking care of the content as well as the way in which it is communicated. The
variety of age groups and cultural realities, gender and state of life
differences will surely demand a range of packaging and adaptations.
d. Life in JY Households. Redemptoris Missio speaks[21] of the
pastoral significance of groups that are “centers for Christian formation and
missionary outreach”. In the movement this has always received priority. While
Jesus Youth Prayer Groups, with the evangelistic dynamism, open themselves more
and more to people of Contact and Companion phases, JY Households should become
forums of the Committed and Confirmed in the movement to “come together for
prayer, Scripture reading, catechesis, and discussion on human and ecclesial problems
with a view to a common commitment”[22]. Use of Jesus
Youth Prayer and, wherever possible, gathering around the Eucharistic Table
will help JY Households to enter deeply into the pace of the life of the
Church. Grass-roots formation has been pointed out as the need of the hour in
the movement. Effective JY Households are surely the answer to this.
e. Ensuring a vibrant life and
fruitful mission. Lifestyle of a person is closely
linked to one’s mission and vice versa. In the movement there is constant
reminder to the “Six Pillars” or an itinerary of holiness required in
everyone’s life. Faith formation in the movement is also for such habit
development. This in turn results in a life of effective Christian witness. It
is through faith formation one receives guidance for effective living bearing
fruits of evangelistic ministries. While bringing about changes in its approach
to formation the movement should make sure that these goals of mission are more
effectively achieved through the changes.
Words and styles
change, but some treasures remain
12. We hear people feeling irritable about
expressions, in the manner of someone listing words that should be banished
from Church vocabulary[23] as they
have already ceased to express the real intent. Surely words become clichés and
program styles become outdated and hence unbearable. Yet with the power of
the Spirit and sincerity of the proclaimers, the Word of the Lord[24] will provide
sustenance and guidance in every generation. All the same, we need to ask if
wineskins[25]
are keeping the wine and human words and formation styles are imparting the
dynamism of the Spirit to the people around. Time and again our words and
styles need renewal and replacement, yet never losing the power of the ever-living
Word, rather being faithful to the dynamism of the movement of the Spirit. This
is a time of grace for the movement, when Jesus Youth is taking a leap forward
responding to the call of the Lord and placing all trust in His providence. May
this renewal of formation styles that Jesus Youth undertakes in this Year of
Faith help the movement accompany this generation more effectively, listening
to the Spirit and walking under the guidance of the Lord.
For the Jesus Youth International Team,
Dr
Edward Edezhath
[1] Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 4.
[2] Mt. 16:3
[3] ‘Fostering the Graces of the Jubilee’ summed up the reflections
that the historic event gave rise to.
[4] Porta Fidei, 9
[5] Rev. 22: 1,2; Ezekiel 47:1 - 12
[6] Hebrews 6:1
[7] Heb. 6:6.
[8] Lineamenta of Synod of
2012, 3.
[9] Mt. 9:13
[10] Mt 9:36,38
[11] Mt 10:20,
Lk 12:12
[12] Lk
12:4,1IPet 4:10
[13] Eph 4:15
[14] Acts 2:41 - 45
[15] Acts 2:37
[16] Lineamenta, Synod of
Bishops: XIII Ordinary General Assembly, 5
[17] Rev. 22:17
[18] John
Paul II. Fedei Depositum. On
the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
[19] John Paul II. Ecclesia
in Asia,9.
[20] Mt. 28:19
[21] John Paul II, Redemptoris
Missio, 51
[22] Same as above
[23] http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2012/09/20/my-banned-list-of-10-church-buzzwords/
[24] Mt. 24:35
[25] Mt. 9:17
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