ASIA/INDIA - Bishops tell youth to “get involved” in task of evangelization

Guwahati (Agenzia Fides) – “We bishops turn to you, our young people: We encourage you to take up the responsibility of your own formation under the guidance of your duly appointed leaders...We cherish the hope that some of you will answer God’s call to the priesthood and religious life. We count on those among you trained in the ICYM and other Youth Movements to step forward as lay leaders.  We exhort you to become ever more involved in the task of evangelization.” These were the words of the Indian Bishops in their Final Statement following the Assembly of the Bishops' Conference, concluded this past March 3 in Guwahati (Northeast India). The Assembly was centered on the youth, affirming the need to “make youth ministry an integral part of Church’s ministry,” with the commitment to “facilitate a Trinitarian, communitarian and ecclesial experience of spirituality for the youth.” The Bishops also hope to “utilize the reach and power of technology and media for wider and creative engagement with youth,” encouraging them to “get involved in issues of human rights and social justice.”
As Fides learns from the Bishops' Conference, in these past few days of examination and discussion they remarked that "the Church has a great responsibility in educating young people for peace and harmony and to form in them the values of mercy, solidarity, sacrifice, and selflessness."
Young people "are called to respond to the challenges of society and politics, to contribute to a nation that is open-minded and has broad horizons. But in their life, exposed to consumerism and materialism, they "need the Church to be there for them as a spiritual guide that shows the truth of the true values: peace, justice, and love."
The assembly also elected Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, as the new President of the interritual Indian Bishops' Conference (CBCI). The Conference, which has a total of 228 Bishops, brings together Bishops of the Churches of the Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankara Rites present in India. The two Vice-Presidents are Archbishop Moran Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, head of the Syro-Malankara, and Bishop George Punnakottil, Bishop of Kothamangalam, a Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Secretary General of the Conference is Archbishop Albert D'Souza of Agra. Those elected will serve for two years. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/3/2010 lines 24 parole 247)