Jesus youth Ministries
With the vision of sharing the faith and building a witnessing Christian community, Jesus Youth have formed themselves into various ministries. A Jesus Youth ministry usually begins as the initiative of an individual or a small youth fellowship, to share Jesus in a specific context using some special talent or charism. From a simple initiative this grows step by step into an organized movement and it gets accepted as a formal ministry of Jesus Youth. While helping young people to come together and grow in fellowship, a Jesus Youth ministry prepares youth to practice a life style of evangelism.
A simple evangelistic initiative when becomes accepted as a ministry it will have a ministry coordinating team and a regular set of formation and outreach programs. In Jesus Youth there are a number of ministries focusing on different areas and at different stages of growth. Through different ministries, Jesus Youth reaches out and engages in faith formation of youth in different fields. There could be a variety of fields for ministries and related ministry categories based on
I) Formation
II) Life situation
III) Talent and
IV) Reach out.
I) Formation
A few examples under this category are:
HISTORY MAKERS
A 4-day Jesus Youth life style orientation for teenagers (14-16 yrs.)
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME
A 7-day training programme for youngsters.
PARISH/PRAYER GROUP LEADERS’ TRAINING
Training for effective youth leadership in the context of a parish.
Quotation: Need for Training
Since the laity participates in the Church’s mission in a way that is their own, their apostolic training acquired a special character precisely from the secularity proper to the lay state and from its particular type of spirituality.… In this way the layman actively inserts himself deep into the very reality of the temporal order and takes his part competently in the work of the world. At the same time, as a living member and witness of the Church, he brings its presence and its action into the heart of the temporal sphere. (Vatican Council II, Lay People, 29)
II) Life situations
A few examples under this category are:
PARISH MINISTRY
Jesus Youth Prayer groups and Small Communities (Cells) form the backbone of this ministry. Parish youth conferences attract thousands and give them strong impetus to be leaven in the parish life.
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Jesus Youth is highly effective among this fast paced, trendy segment of the society. A number of initiatives and training modules have grown out of this ministry among university and college teachers and students.
Quotation: Campus Ministry
Schools and colleges and other Catholic educational institutions should foster in the young a Catholic outlook and apostolic action. If the young do not get this type of education, either because they do not attend these schools, or for some other reason, all the greater is the responsibility for it that devolves upon parents, pastoral and apostolic bodies. (Vatican Council II, Lay People, 30)
HOSPITAL MINISTRY
This is a very active network of nursing schools and hospitals involving both students and staff. Organizing conferences and a number of training programs has been a regular function of this ministry.
III) Talent
A few examples under this category are:
MUSIC MINISTRY
Provides training for church choirs and conducts music retreats for musicians. This helps and trains young men and women with musical abilities to make use of those talents for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
AUDIO VISUAL
Theatrical arts are used for youth formation and evangelization and to communicate the message of Jesus, through skits, mimes, choreography, video productions etc.
Quotation: Being Relevant
Evangelization loses much of its force and effectiveness if it does not take into consideration the actual people to whom it is addressed, if it does not use their language, their signs and symbols, if it does not answer the questions they ask, and if does not have an impact on their concrete life. (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 63)
IV) Reach out
A few examples under this category are:
AMONG CHILDREN (JY Teens Ministry)
Here we have the older brothers and sisters providing positive role models and friendly Christian guidance to the younger ones. When active youth conduct out reach to schools through retreats and training programs they are highly effective.
YOUTH FOR LIFE (Jesus Youth Pro-lifers)
Jesus Youth pro-life ministry trains many ‘life volunteers’ to take a stand against the ‘culture of death’ and to challenge others to take a stand for the same. Jesus Youth campaign against abortion has been highly effective.
Two ministries that are the back bone of all our activities:
INTERCESSION MINISTRY
This is the powerhouse of the Jesus Youth Movement, active through fasting, prayers, chain prayers, night vigils and intercession retreats.
FINANCE MINISTRY
Jesus Youth raise funds with the aid of commitment cards, tithes, and voluntary donations.
Quotation: Variety Among Movements
Great Variety is to be found in apostolic associations. Some look to the general apostolic end of the Church; others aim specifically at evangelization and sanctification; others work for the permeation of the temporal order by the Christian spirit; and others engage in works of mercy and of charity as their special way of bearing witness to Christ. First among these associations to be given consideration should be those which favour and promote a more intimate unity between the faith of the members and their everyday life. (Vatican Council II, Lay People, 19)
