Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cochin (Agenzia Fides) - It is urgent to form Catholic lay persons, young people especially to enable them to play a more active part in the life of the Church in India and be evangelisers in society: this is a priority for the Catholic community in the southern Indian state of Kerala which has been reflecting on the role of the laity in the life and mission of the Church. The Bishops, recognising the need to improve the formation of the laity to enable them to undertake important duties in the community, intend to give careful consider the demands, necessities and aspirations of lay Catholics.
In the framework of this desire for renewal, recently Cochin Renewal Centre in Kerala, hosted a meeting with the title "Youth, and their mission in the Church”, organised by the Salesians in India. The meeting coordinated by Rev. Joseph Fernandez and opened by Bishop James Pazhayattil, Bishop of Irinjalakuda, brought together for the first time delegates for youth pastoral, school headmasters, leaders of lay and youth associations including the All Indian Catholic University Federation, Christian Living Communities, Jesus Youth, Catholic Mission League, “Kerala Catholic Youth Movement. According to the Salesian news bulletin ANS, the meeting was an opportunity for the youth organisations in the dioceses to share experience and plan collaboration. The participants reached precise resolution to promote a missionary Church in Kerala to form young missionaries.
At the end of two days of reflection, Rev Jaison Kollanur, secretary of the youth pastoral commission of the Kerala Council of Bishops, thanked the Salesians for organising the initiative and he underlined the importance of the role and the responsibility of lay Catholics, young people especially, for the Church's mission: they are called to bear credible and authentic Christian witness in society and to carry out an important task of awareness raising and evangelisation, in keeping with Catholic Social Doctrine. This role was sanctioned by Vatican II, and is of key importance for the future of the Church. Young people are increasingly aware of this and many decide to spend a few years of the life on mission, leaving work to undertake evangelisation, works of charity, or serve in the Church. There is a also a growing desire to deepen knowledge of the faith, as the many requests to attend Kerala's new John Paul Lay Centre for Theology demonstrate. The Centre, reserved for lay Catholics only, offers courses in theology, catechesis, pastoral service. The John Paul Lay Centre for Theology is in Thiruvalla, in the diocese of Changancherry. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2007 righe 29 parole 296)
