KENYA: Youths Need People Who Walk With Them, Not Teachers
That young people need those who walk with them, not merely teachers was echoed by Sr. Lucy Muthini Nderi from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Congregation during a two-day symposium, from 18th-19th February, at Tangaza University College (TUC), following the outcomes of the Youth’s Synod with Pope Francis in October last year.
Sr. Lucy who attended the Synod in Rome, was one of the keynote speakers during the Symposium held at TUC, whose theme was “The Church Listens to African Youth.” According to Sr. Lucy who spoke about the young people and missionary discipleship, the youths need people who can inspire them through their way of life not just those who give them instructions.
“We do not need teachers; we need people who walk with us. We need pastors who are close to us. We need people who help us to question our lives – those who stimulate in us the meaning or sense of life,” Sr. Lucy recalls the young people talking during the Synod adding, “The adult Church and the young Church cannot be dissociated. If we work together, if we listen to each other, if we dialogue and discern together, then we can be a more authentic Church, a more cohesive Church and a missionary Church.”
Speaking at the same Symposium about the young people and the digital world, Fr. John Bosco Onyala who lectures at TUC echoed the words of Pope Francis saying, “In the document towards the Synod, released in January this year, the Bishops recognized online social networks as the public sphere where young people spend much of their time and meet one another easily.”
Fr. Bosco explained that even though young people are mostly found in the digital world, the Church seem to acknowledge that not all youths are in a position to access the digital media as part of the document reads, “Not every youth across the globe has access to Internet, particularly in some regions of the world.”
When young people talk about their need for those who inspire their lives, Sr. Lucy clarifies that “The concern of young people is that the Church is more of a teacher than a companion on the journey so much that in many situations they feel judged and condemned.”
Reminding the Church of her responsibility towards young people, Sr. Lucy further explained saying, “Each young person has a mission to accomplish in the world. Therefore, it is important to cultivate the spirit of accompaniment in our Church communities, creating a conducive atmosphere where vocational discernment is facilitated. This is to acknowledge that each young person can be a positive agent of building a world civilized by love.”
Even though the digital world is an environment with various opportunities where people can encounter with each other and dialogue, exchange experiences and share information, Fr. Bosco observed that the Synod document also outlined the dark side of the digital world.
“The document talks of the digital world to be a source of loneliness, manipulation, exploitation and even violence. It exposes people to the risk of dependency hence one cannot leave without it, Fr. Bosco explained adding, “The digital media in some way block authentic interpersonal relationship where people have several friends and followers in social media but in reality one has no or very few friends to interact with.”
Despite the many challenges, Fr John Bosco the speaker said that the social media are good and the Church has actually embraced them. However, the Church promotes responsible and cautious use of the digital technologies.
“It is now the duty of users to be keen on what they post and promote when using these gadgets,” he continued.
The Symposium was convened by the Institute of Youth Studies in collaboration with the School of Theology, Tangaza University College.
∽End∽
By Sr. Antoinette Jecinter Okoth, FSSA
