‘Youth Ministry Is Youth Ministering To Others’

  “Youth ministry is often interpreted as people working for the youth. This is only one side of the story,” Bangalore Archdiocesan Youth director, Father Divya Paul told participants at a two-day Conference of Karnataka Media and Youth Commission Members in Bellary held from August 4^th to 5^th . He said the youth must also be given opportunities to minister to others with their various talents and potentials. “There is a great potential among our youth in various fields and such potential must be used for the building up of the Church, both locally and universally.” Elaborating on the four-fold ministry of the Youth Commission, he said youth ministry should cater to the youth, with the youth, for the youth and by the youth. This four-fold ministry meant responding to their needs, working with adults to fulfil the common responsibilities in the Church mission, giving opportunities for youth to exercise their own ministry for the service of others and interpreting the needs of the youth, he said. He called on the youth to adapt the way of functioning of Jesus who reached out in various situations to various people. This reaching-out should foster the spiritual growth of every young person, he said, adding youth ministry seeks to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community.