ADDRESS TO CANADIAN BISHOPS ON YOUTH PASTORAL MINISTRY

VATICAN CITY, APR 22, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning received the bishops of the apostolic region of Quebec, Canada, including Montreal's two new auxiliaries and the Maronite and Melkite ordinaries, and focussed his talk to them on the importance of youth pastoral ministry.

Addressing the prelates in French, the Pope congratulated them for their "efforts ... in proposing the faith to young people in a renewed and concerted way."

He highlighted the family's role in passing the faith on to children: "Being awakened to the faith within the family is of capital importance. ... The family has an irreplaceable and specific role in (a child's) human and spiritual formation. Childhood is an important period for the discovery of human, moral and spiritual values. And as you yourself have admitted, it is often an occasion for parents to ask themselves about their own faith, their attachment to Christ and the conformity of their lives with the Gospel."

Addressing the difficulties often encountered by those responsible for youth ministry, John Paul II encouraged them "not to despair if they do not immediately see the fruits of their work. ... In today's society, ... young people carry within them questions and sufferings which are marked by personal and social behavior which can disconcert those close to them, notably the phenomena of violence and drugs, as well as suicidal behavior. ... Education requires infinite patience and a loving closeness."

"Young people, "he went on, "need educators and spiritual directors who are competent, wise and sensitive in their ways of leading (youth)." In fact, the Pope said he "could not recommend too highly to priests, consecrated persons and lay people working in this ministry to propose to young people the experience of a spiritual director."

"So that young people might grow in their faith," stated Pope John Paul, "it would be good to assure them of a place and give them their share of responsibility, not only in groups their age, but also within the heart of local communities.. ... In your dioceses, large gatherings or even smaller groups are regularly organized to help young people to reflect on their emotional lives and on the vocation to marriage, transmitting to them the meaning and the value of human sexuality. ... In a world where the family unit is fragile and where many wounds deeply affect young people, ... the Church has the duty to educate them to an emotional life built on healthy human and moral values."

The Holy Father's concluding remarks were dedicated to what he termed "one of the primordial dimensions of the episcopal ministry, ... the pastoral ministry for vocations to the priesthood, which must be constantly organized and developed, thanks to priests and to solid and dynamic and laity, while taking care to give young priests, who can be models and examples, an active role in this sphere."

"Jesus calls certain young men and women to follow Him," stated the Pope, "in a more exclusive manner and to dedicate themselves totally to Him in the religious life. ... This call of Christ's to the consecrated life is an eloquent witness for today's world, reminding us that true happiness comes from Christ and the freedom of the human person cannot be separated from either the truth or from God."

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