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Youth United for Christ :
 

Till December 27, 2008 the youth wing of NCCRS was known as National Catholic Charismatic Youth Council (NCCYC) with the mandate for service and promotion of the Renewal among the youth.  It was not actually intended to establish itself as a ministry or to set up its branches in the regions. Youth ministries were functional in the prominent regions of India under different names, viz., The Torchbearers  of Christ in Mumbai, Hosanna Youth in Bangalore, Youth for Christ in Delhi, Young Christian Shepherds in Goa, etc. NCCYC, after consultations with the youth representatives from the regions, came up with a proposal for starting a national youth ministry with a common name. In the joint meeting of NST and NCCYC held on 30th November, 2008 at Nagpur it was decided to start the new youth ministry with the name ‘Youth United for Christ’.  The ‘Youth United for Christ’ was launched on 27th December, 2008 at the Youth Convention, KAIROS 2008, held at Mumbai.
 
 

  Introduction
 
Youth United for Christ (hereinafter referred to as YU4C) is the Youth Ministry of the National Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (NCCRS), which is officially recognized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), for the service, promotion and coordination of all Catholic Charismatic Renewal activities in India. The CBCI has also appointed an Episcopal Advisor to the NCCRS.
The National Service Team (NST), aware of the need for a national level youth ministry that is based on the principle of “Passing on Leadership to the Young Generation”. We have the guidance of the Word of God also in this regard. In the Old Testament, we find Joshua being groomed by Moses by sharing life with him, teaching him everything he knew himself, delegating responsibilities and helping him to face real life situations. Joshua was able to enter the Promised Land, fight and win the victory and lead the whole tribe of Israel. In the same way, in the New Testament, we find Paul training Timothy, Silas, Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos by being with them and guiding them to take leadership of the Corinthian Church.
At the World Youth Day, 1995, Pope John Paul II said: “What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through His body, which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice, which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people”.
   
 
  History
The Youth Ministry of the NCCRS is not a new idea. Such an initiative was in operation as early as in 1980’s. Then it was known as the National Youth Pastoral Team (NYPT). This was a central team in which faith formation, leadership training, prayer life, Word of God, Sacramental life and commitment were given priorities and the youth were being formed. They in turn worked in the regions and brought up many more youth and they were responsible for organizing a national level Youth Convention in 1989.
In May 1996, a National Youth Consultation took place in Cochin wherein youth leaders from different parts of the country participated together with their pastors and animators. In that consultation, it was decided to start a Youth Council to have a wider base, both in participation and outlook and thus the National Catholic Charismatic Youth Council (NCCYC) was formed. The NCCYC tried to coordinate the regional youth initiatives in the Charismatic Renewal and in the process was responsible for organizing three National Youth Conventions, viz. in October 2002 in Bangalore, December 2004 in Chennai and December 2008 in Mumbai.

Youth ministries were formed in some of the prominent regions in India like The Torchbearers for Christ in Mumbai (1978), Hosanna Youth in Bangalore, Youth for Christ in Delhi, Young Christian Shepherds in Goa, etc., However, the National Service Team has been sensing for quite some time the need for a national level youth ministry that is networked throughout the country. The NCCYC, with its mandate for service and promotion of the Renewal among the youth, was not actually intended to establish itself as a ministry or to set up its branches in the regions. Subsequently after consultations with the youth representatives from the regions, the NCCYC came up with a proposal for starting a national youth ministry with a common name acceptable to all regions.

After prayer and discernment during two meetings of the NST and consultation with the chairpersons and regional contact persons and coordinators of NCCYC who were present at Nagpur for the Conference of Directors of Retreat Centers and Teams from 1st to 5th December 2008, it was decided to start Youth United for Christ as the youth ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India. This ministry was officially launched at the inaugural session of KAIROS 2008, the National Youth Convention in Mumbai held from 27 to 29 December, 2008.

 
 

  GUIDELINES
 

   General Nature and purpose:
 The purpose of Youth United for Christ are:
To foster among youth a mature and continuous personal conversion to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and commitment to the Body of Christ, the Church through Charismatic Spirituality.
To bring youth to the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (BHS) and thereby renew their relationship with the Holy Spirit.
To foster the reception and use of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit as found in the holy Scriptures
To foster an appreciation among youth of the power of personal and collective prayer, the power of praise, the power of intercession and the need for weekly prayer meetings
To raise up youth laborers for the work of re-evangelization among Catholics and evangelization among non-Catholics in the power of the Holy Spirit through exhortations and examples.
To raise up strong youth leadership that will carry on the work of spreading the Gospel
To foster ongoing growth in holiness through the proper integration of the above mentioned Charismatic emphasis with the full life of the Church, through participation in a rich sacramental and liturgical life, appreciation of the tradition of Catholic prayer and Spirituality, ongoing formation in Catholic doctrine, and participation in the pastoral plan of the local church.
 
 

  Spirituality – Christian Discipleship
 
Youth United for Christ aims to promote an active Christian way of life and so the members seek   to grow as faithful disciples of Christ, through the seven pillars enunciated as follows:
 
  • Personal prayer: A daily ‘quiet time’ experiencing the presence of the Lord is basic in the life of everyone. This leads to an experience of loving friendship with Jesus, fostering a joyful attitude and creative approach to the chores of daily life.

  • Word of God: A fixed time everyday for reading the Bible meditatively helps to shape ones life according to God’s will. This is a method of seeking God’s guidance in everyday life.

  • Sacramental life: Frequent and active participation in the Sacrament of Eucharist and at least once a month recourse to the sacrament of Reconciliation helps to a life of wholeness and helps in growth in holiness and provides strength to fulfill the mission.

  • Fellowship and exercising of charisms: Christian life needs mutual support, encouragement and gentle correction. Cell groups and prayer groups help in this way for mutual building up. Prayer groups shall be the nucleus from where charisms shall be necessarily exercised to grow in and building up of the Body of Christ.

  • Service: willingness to serve those in need is a sure sign of a follower of Jesus. This ministry is oriented towards service to humanity and so social outreach becomes a sure sign of a follower of Jesus.

  • Commitment: to share the person and message of Jesus with others is basic for every one in Youth United for Christ.

  • Pastoring: Being guided by an Elder /Spiritual Director in all matters of spiritual growth. Spiritual Director who is a priest could be the personal confessor also.
    		•
     
     

      Membership
     
    Any Youth who meet the following criteria may become a member of Youth United for Christ.
    		Who is a member of the Catholic Church who has gone through or is willing to undergo a BHS experience.
    		Within the age group of 16 to 35 yrs ordinarily and 18 to 35 where Christeen groups exist – whether single or married. Membership shall automatically cease at 35 years and it shall be mandatory for these members to join a Parish Prayer Group.
    		Who has made a personal surrender of his/her life to Jesus Christ as Lord
    		Who is open to guidance and counsel of fellow members, leaders and elders.
     
     
      Working structure and modalities
     

    		Youth Prayer meetings are the basic units for fellowship and growth. These groups meet once a week, either together with the elders or by themselves depending on the norms allowed by the parish priest and the Regional Service Team. In case they are meeting by themselves, it is advisable for them to meet together with the elders at least once a month. Weekly meeting for prayer and sharing provides a continual support that is needed for growth in prayer life and also in holiness.
       
     
  • Youth Prayer meetings have elements that are common to all – praise and worship, exercising of gifts, listening to the Lord, sharing the Word of God and intercession.
    		•
  • Those who are gathering in weekly prayer meetings would find meeting in smaller cell groups more oftener useful for more intimate sharing and growth. A cell group consists of three to seven members of the same sex.
    		•
  • The nature of these cell groups varies according to the needs of its members. They could be established in parishes, colleges, hostels, factories or place of work, etc. The style and content of each cell differs according to particular circumstances. Attendance at cell meetings however does not absolve a person from attending regular weekly prayer meetings.
    		•
  • Prayer meetings that are exclusively for youth will have a leader and an elder appointed by the elders’ group. The leader and the core-group together with the elder, prays and plans the conduct of the weekly meetings.
    		•
  • The leader of the youth prayer meetings regularly attends the core group meeting of the elders group in the parish. Also the elder designated by the elders group regularly attends the prayer meeting of the youth. This establishes a healthy relationship between the prayer groups in the parish.
    		•
  • The leader is chosen in the presence and under the guidance of the elder appointed by the elders’ team for the purpose and is chosen for a period of three years. In the youth prayer meeting, membership in the core-team  will not be held by a person consecutively for more than two terms.
    		•
     

    		Zonal/ Diocesan structure.
       
     
  • The zone/diocese will have a service team called the Zonal/Diocesan Youth Service Team.
    This Team is elected once in three years under the supervision and guidance of an elder appointed for the purpose by the elders team. The Coordinator of the Zonal/Diocesan Service Team will be a member of the elders Zonal/Diocesan Team. The Coordinator holds office as coordinator only for one term whereas a person could continue as team member for a second term also. No one person will hold office for more than two terms consecutively as a member of the team.
    		•
  • The Zonal/Diocesan Youth Service Team meets at least once a month. An elder is appointed by the elders team taking into confidence the youth team and will attend all the youth meetings.
  • It is desirable that the Team has a priest and a religious sister appointed by the elders team as regular members. This appointment will be for the term of the team.
    		•
  • The main responsibility of the Zonal/Diocesan Youth Service Team is to ensure the healthy growth of the parish youth prayer meetings and also planning and conducting programmes aimed at growth for those in leadership in the parish prayer meetings.
    		•
  • The Spiritual Director appointed by the Bishop for the Renewal will serve as the Spiritual Director for the Zonal/Diocesan Youth Service Team.
  • The Zonal/Diocesan Youth Service Team is accountable to the Zonal/Diocesan Service Team of elders in all matters and will be under obedience to the local Bishop in all matters pertaining to faith and morals.
    		•
     

    		Regional Youth Service Team:
       
     
  • Regional Youth Service Team is chosen once in three years, from among the zonal/diocesan youth team members. The term of office will be for three years, renewable for another term of three years, but in any case no one person can be in office for more than two terms at a stretch. The Coordinator of the team is elected only for one term, but not renewable for another term.
    		•
  • The Regional Youth Service Team meets at least once in three months.
    		•
  • The Regional Team consists of a Coordinator and at least eight other members discerned and one third should be women preferably.
  • The Regional Youth Team will have a Spiritual Director/Pastor appointed by the regional elders’ team. A religious sister also may be nominated by the regional elders’ team to be on the youth regional team. The term of office of the religious sister and the Spiritual director will be three years.
    		•
  • The Regional Youth Service Team is accountable to the Regional Service Team of elders in all matters and under obedience to the Episcopal Advisor / the Commission appointed for the Renewal / the Regional Bishops’ Conference in matters pertaining to faith and morals.
    		•
  • The Regional Youth Team will be responsible in organizing periodic training/formation programmes for potential leaders in the region and also for networking the zonal/diocesan teams.
    		•
     

    		National Youth Service Team
       
     
  • The National Youth Service Team is chosen from the regional/zonal/Diocesan team members for a period of three years. The National Team will have one Coordinator, an Assistant Coordinator, a Secretary and seven other members. The discernment will be in the presence and under the guidance of a member of the NST appointed for the purpose by the NST.
    		•
  • In addition to the discerned members, the NST nominates a priest and also a religious sister to be members of the team in consultation with the youth and their term of office will be three years.
  • Two members from among the NST members, of which one will be a priest, are nominated by the NST to the team. The priest will be the Spiritual Director and the other member will be the youth animator. This appointment will be for the term of the Youth Service Team.
  • The National Youth Team organizes regular programmes on the national level for training of youth leaders and also for networking the regions. Regional events with the purpose of networking also may be planned and executed. Triennial Conventions for consolidation and building up also comes under the purview of the national youth team.
    		•
  • The Coordinator of the National Youth Team will be an ex-officio member of the NST.
    		•
  • The National Youth Team meets at least three times in a year for minimum of two full days each. At least once in a year the National Service Team and the National Youth Service Team will have a joint meeting to review the functioning of the youth ministry.
    		•
  • The National Youth Coordinator is appointed by the NST.
    		•
  • As and when it is needed, the team may co-opt up to a maximum of five additional members for short periods of time with the prior approval of the NST.
  • All the members of the National Youth Service Team will be ex-officio members of the zonal/diocesan/Regional Youth Service Teams.
    		•
     
     
      A. Election process
     
     

    1) YU4C of a parish/area is coordinated by its Core Group and the Core Group is selected by the     members of that prayer group.

    2) The prayer group meets on the date fixed for the selection together with the elder and in an      atmosphere of prayer and with the spirit of confidentiality proposes the names of those who      should come into the Core Group through a process of discernment. If the number of names is      more than the required number, in an atmosphere of confidentiality to facilitate the work of the      Holy Spirit, the prayer group expresses its preference through a vote. Using the vote gained by      each member as an indicator, the elder together with the existing leader of the prayer group finalizes the Core group.

    3)  The leader of the core group (prayer group) is elected by the Core Group.

    4)  The zonal team is chosen from among the members of the Core group members of the prayer      group in a method similar to that in 2 above.

    5)  The Regional team is chosen in a similar manner from among the zonal service team members.

    6)  The National Youth Service Team is elected as in VI d i) above.
     
      B. Finances
     
     

    1) One person in the Core Group and a three member team in all other formation of YU4C handles the finances following the directive of the respective teams and reports on the state of finances in a statement form to the next higher body every six months.

     
      C. Duties and responsibilities.
     
    1. National coordinator.
      a. Convoke and preside over the YU4C team meetings with an agenda prepared in consultation     with other members

    b. Represent YU4C in the NST and other Catholic Youth Forms with NST’s concurrence.

    c. Implement the decisions of YU4C national team.

    d. Authorize major expenditures by YU4C team members.
      e. consult NST in all major decisions and/or problem situations.
       
    2. Assistant National Coordinator.
     

    a. Provide assistance to the National coordinator.

    b. Preside over the team meetings in the absence of the National coordinator.

    c. Act on behalf of the National coordinator during his long absence or if he is incapacitated.
       
    3. Secretary
     

    a. Attends all team meetings, minutes the proceedings and circulates the same to all members of     the team with the national coordinators approval

    b. Be in regular communication with the Team members and carry out the directives of the     National coordinator
       
    4. Treasurer
     

    a. Maintain a proper record of all income and expenditure of YU4C

    b. The books of accounts to be maintained on a day to day basis, consolidate it every month     except in the case of any major project in which case it should be consolidated within a     month of its conclusion and keep the National Coordinator posted of the same.

    c. prepare and submit the statement of accounts to the NST every six months.
       
    5. Members
     

    Those who are elected and accept the responsibility of being a member of the National Team Should attend all the Team meetings and discharge the responsibilities entrusted to them without any fail. Consecutive absence from three meetings will be a sufficient reason for dropping such a person from the team.
     
     
    A. Disputes
     

    Disputes of any kind arising at any time and is not settled within the team itself will be brought to the notice of the Chairman of the NST and his verdict on the issue will be final and binding on the YU4C
       
    B. Conclusion
     

    With the fast changing youth scenario and the resultant developments in the youth ministry in mind, the NST, in close consultation with the Youth leadership, will review and update the ‘guidelines’ periodically or as and when necessitated.
     
     

    NST Coordinator
    Mr. Vinoo Anthony

     

    T-24, Plot No. 4103,
    New No.8/1, T-Block, 11th Street,
    Annanagar, Chennai,
    TN - 600040
    Ph: 044-26213439, 09444454199 (Mob.),
    E-mail: darvin@airtelbroadband.in
       
     

    Acting Coordinator
    Mr. Lenny Soares     

     

    B/10, Sharon Rose, Tank Lane, Orlem,
    Malad (W),
    Mumbai-400064
    Ph:022-28055850, 09967733447,
    E-mail:meetlenny@gmail.com.
     

    Hence our vision for the future:
     

    The nature of the Church is charismatic and therefore the exercise of the charisms should not be marginalized but be in the mainstream of the church.