DON BOSCO YOUTH ANIMATION, SOUTH ASIA DELEGATES GOOGLE MEET
RETHINKING SALESIAN YOUTH MINISTRY AMIDST COVID-19
Don Bosco Youth Animation, South Asia delegates met together through a Google meet on Tuesday, 9th June, 2020 at 11.00 a.m. Fr. Robert Simon presided at this first scheduled meeting after he took over as Delegate for youth ministry – South Asia. Fr. Biju Michael, the new Regional Superior for South Asia, inspired the delegates to put the young person at the centre of Salesian youth ministry. Revisiting the annual plan of DBYA – South Asia, the delegates decided to implement the guidelines of 28th General Chapter and integrate the action plan of Laudato Si to respond to the cry of the earth and the poor.
The meeting which spanned about two hours, began with a note of welcome especially to the new delegates Fr. Arul Maran of Trichy Province and Fr. John Christy of Chennai Province, and expressions of gratitude to Fr. Maria Charles, the outgoing South Asia Delegate for youth ministry. The delegates from all the Provinces of South Asia shared about what has been done in the various provinces during the past 3 months, when the pandemic has triggered an unprecedented economic, psychological, spiritual, educational, health, social, and educational crisis, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of poor young people. Since the outbreak began in March 2020, DBYA South Asia has reached out to meet various needs of young people. The pandemic has forced Youth Ministry Departments of all provinces to adapt its services.
Initially cooked food and rations were provided as there was loss of household income for the poor and vulnerable, including migrant workers. Masks, sanitizers, and soaps were distributed. Awareness programmes about good handwashing and hygiene practices essential to reducing transmission and exposure to the coronavirus were conducted. Migrant workers were helped to return safely to their native places. Don Bosco institutions were made available for quarantine. Online educational services and broadcasting of live religious services have been started. New initiatives such as organic farming, data collection of migrants, online answering of questions, psychological helplines to reduce stress and even online youth centres have been started. Rescue teams of young people came forward to assist Salesians in the social services.
In the words of Fr. Robert Simon, “Now is the time to move forward from relief and rehabilitation works to an integrated, wholistic youth ministry, which includes psychological, educational and spiritual services. It is also time to share the innovations in youth ministry in different languages of South Asia.” The delegates were encouraged to engage interested young people and allow the spontaneous growth of the Salesian youth movement. The delegates revisited the annual plan of DBYA – South Asia and decided to implement the guidelines of 28th General Chapter. Responding to the cry of the earth and the poor, DBYA South Asia decided to integrate the action plan of Laudato Si to make communities of South Asia totally sustainable in the spirit of the integral ecology of Laudato Si. DBYA will promote simple life styles, ecological education, ecological spirituality and give emphasis on community involvement and participatory action to care for creation at the local, regional and international levels.
Fr. Biju Michael, the new Regional Superior for South Asia, congratulated the DBYA delegates for the various initiatives in South Asian region throughout the whole year and especially during the Covid times. He emphazised on Salesian predilection for the poor young people and exhorted the delegates to put the poor, vulnerable young person at the centre of Salesian Youth ministry. In the words of Fr. Biju Michael: “The subject of Salesian Youth ministry is the young person and not just his needs. We are evangelizers of the young.” He reminded the delegates to promote Salesian religious vocations through Salesian youth ministry.
Fr. Babu Varghese SDB
Delegate, Youth Ministry Department