Indian layman addresses Synod

(Oct. 17, 2012) Among the seven auditors who addressed the Synod Tuesday morning was an Indian layman. Manoj Sunny a founding member of the “Jesus Youth” Movement, who was appointed auditor to the Synod by Pope Benedict XVI, cited four specific areas which need to be given special attention in the context of the “New Evangelization.” He said the laity’s central role in reaching out to crucial areas of the secular world, working together with the clergy is vital for the new evangelization. Secondly he said there is a need to focus on the evangelization of Asia due to the growing economy of the Asian continent and the large number of migrations from Asia to different parts of the world. He said evangelizing the laity in Asia will become the most effective tool for world evangelization.
Noting that there are 3 billion people below the age of 25 on this planet, Sunny also spoke of the urgency of forming young missionaries and mentioned the 7 steps taken by “Jesus Youth” Movement to form the youth as missionaries. He also spoke of the new phenomena of lay full-time missionaries for the new evangelization, saying many lay people with professional skills and better access to secular avenues, are called to forsake full-time jobs and serve as missionaries, as they have the possibility to take the Gospel to the farthest corners of the world where the Church struggles to enter. For the new evangelization to be truly successful, the Church needs to encourage young missionaries, said journalist Sunny.