4411_Let's speak the young people!

Preparation for the 2018 Synod of Bishops: Faith - Young - Vocational Discernment

June 17, 2017

By Youth Ministry Sector

Generalate, 17 June 2017 -- Fraternal greetings and prayerful wishes from the Youth Ministry Sector, Rome. Incoming Synod 2018, Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment, is a great blessing to the Church and to the young. In preparation for the Synod, a questionnaire is sent to all the dioceses along with the preparatory document. Statistics, evaluation of the situation and sharing activities as suggested by the document will certainly be a spring board for our reflection and action in the future.

While the whole Church is moving towards a process of listening to the young, as Salesians we cannot remain passive, looking at what is happening. As the theme is very much 'Salesian', we are called by our Pope Francis in an audience with our Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, on 19 May 2017, to play a proactive and a significant role in this process.

The contribution of Salesians (3 SDB and one FMA) to the Synod preparatory document is also a sign of an ecclesial recognition and an ecclesial responsibility. Hence we are asking you to take concrete initiatives to organize youth forums to respond to the questionnaire effectively. Apart from sending the results to the respective dioceses, kindly send them to Youth Ministry Sector - Fr. Patrick (paalexander@sdb.org) by 24th October 2017. The synthesis of the questionnaire will be taken up for our sharing and discussion also in the (EAO) regional meeting of 2017.

There is another opportunity open since June 14, 2017 - ONLINE SURVEY addressed to the young people between 16-29 years of age around the world in view of the next 2018 Synod of Bishops in five languages (Italian, Spanish, English, French and Portuguese). The online survey is open until next November 2017: http://youth.synod2018.va

Synod 2018 materials (Synod preparatory document, Questions to the young people etc) are available on the BOSCOLINK:

1. In what manner does the Church listen to the lived situations of young people?
2. What are the main challenges and significant opportunities for young in your country today?
3. What kinds and places of group gatherings of youth, institutionalized or otherwise, have a major success within the Church, and why?
4. What kinds and places of group gatherings of youth, institutionalized or otherwise, have a major success outside the Church, and why?
5. What do young people really ask of the Church in your country / countries today?
6. What possibilities for participation exist in your country for the young to take part in the life of the ecclesial community?
7. How and in what manner is contact made with young people who do not frequent Church?
8. How are families and communities involved in the vocational discernment of young people?
9. How do schools and universities contribute to young people’s formation in vocational discernment?
10. In what manner are you taking into account the cultural changes resulting from the digital world?
11. How can World Youth Days or other national events become a part of ordinary pastoral practice?
12. In what manner is your planning experiences for the pastoral vocational program for young people?
13. How much time and in what manner do clergy, formators provide for personal spiritual guidance?
14. What initiatives and opportunities for formation are in place for those who provide pastoral vocational guidance?
15. What personal guidance is offered in seminaries (and Aspirantates)?

ASIA AND OCEANIA

1. Why and how do religious gatherings by those who are non-Catholic exercise an attraction on young people?
2. In what way can the values of a local culture be combined with Christian teaching, while also giving importance to popular piety?
3. How is the language used in a young people’s world incorporated in the pastoral care of young people, especially in the media, sports and music?