REDEMPTORISTS, YOUTH AND VOCATIONS

‘Lord what would you have me do?’ There are times in life when all Christians ask themselves this question. It may be in moments of doubt or fear or when faced with a variety of choices. However, this question is posed more often and more intensely in adolescence and youth. At that age we think there are many roads open before us and yet so few are possible, in fact only one. We begin to realize that we are made this way and not that way. At this stage we begin to stop dreaming and to accept ourselves for who we are. We understand that our love cannot remain forever at the level of only poetry but rather it requires us to make a concrete commitment with real people.

‘Lord what would you have me do?’ If you, my young friend, have asked yourself this question, then this page is for you. And if for some reason you have gotten to know the Redemptorists and have thought of sharing their mission then you have added reason to continue reading. If from other pages on this site you received information about Redemptorists today, then here you will find specifically what they are trying to do specially for young people like you.

A Commitment called RYVM

Thanks to this site you probably already know that there are few more than 5,500 Redemptorists ministering in over 77 countries today. It is not easy, therefore, to speak of a ‘Redemptorist vocation in today’s world’. A small village in Africa is very different from a Japanese metropolis and young people who study in an American University have ideals quite unlike those of adolescents in the Bolivian Andes.

Nevertheless, despite the diversity and complexity of our world, young people are precisely the one group of people with the most common characteristics. The thirst for freedom, the need to communicate and to love, the sense of progress and confidence in science, the commitment to peace and justice are some of the traits common to young people. And it is to these, wherever they may be or whatever their ethnicity, race or culture, that Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry (RYVM) is addressed.

Since RYVM has young people preferably in view, it desires to direct their attention particularly to this question: ‘what can I do for Jesus Christ?’ There may be a variety of responses to it:

-   I am called to live my baptism to the full as a layperson, in my daily social life, by being faithful to and giving witness to the Gospel and by helping to build a more just and loving world.

-   As a layperson I am called to help the Church in more concrete ways, in the parish through help groups and liturgy groups and by being involved in catechesis and pastoral councils.

-   I am called to a closer commitment to Christ the Redeemer as a Redemptorist missionary: as a priest, permanent deacon of brother making vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

-   I am called to commit myself as a Redemptorist lay missionary in a more or less formal way, according to circumstances.

-   I am called to become better acquainted with the Redemptorist family that through the ages has come to include so many Institutes of feminine and masculine religious, in particular the Redemptoristines, and to ask myself if it not perhaps in one of these that I am called to give my life.

-   I am called to another state of consecrated life: perhaps as a diocesan priest or in another religious family.

As you can see, the RYVM is a commitment with broad dimensions which, while remaining open to the Church and to the world, is centered on the person so that each individual can embrace and live his or her vocation with complete freedom.

More particularly

What we have said so far refers to RYVM shared on a worldwide level. But because our world is so vast and multiform, there are also a variety of ways of doing RYVM.

Concretely what can you do, young man or young woman, if you wish to be involved in RYVM or to deepen your understanding of your own vocation? The first thing to do is contact the Redemptorists nearest to you. You can find them if you consult the List of the various Units (= Provinces, Vice Provinces, Regions or Missions) and ask for the person in charge of RYVM.

For your information, you will most likely find this situation, depending on the continent in which you live.

Asia-Oceania

In this immense continent, where Christians are a minority, RYVM is generally developed at the parish level. However, parish missions are also occasions to speak to young people about the “good news” of vocations. In India, Southeast Asia and Korea there are no lack of vocations. Many Units have a person or group in charge of RYVM and the most frequent contacts are usually retreat houses, vocational schools, missionary work and weekends in seminaries etc.

Africa

The presence of Christians on this continent is strong and vibrant. Some Redemptorist Units have many vocations, others less, due particularly to war and poverty. The methods of doing RYVM vary but since the parish is the center of most activity, so it is with RYVM too. Missionary preaching also plays an important role. Other activities of this Region include, retreat houses, visits to schools, postal correspondence and youth pilgrimages.

North America

The United States and Canada face the challenges proper to the modern world, in which there is little opportunity for God, particularly in planning one’s life. However, RYVM continues to be a commitment of pastoral priority in many Units. This is put into practice through prayer meetings and social projects such as groups of volunteer workers, retreat houses for young people etc. The leaders meet periodically and young people come together every three years at the Regional level in Dialogue. Particular to this Region is the young adult who for a variety of reasons requires special attention, different from that shown to adolescents and teenagers.

Latin America

The Redemptorists, present in almost every country on this continent, are involved in an important mission. Most certainly there are no lack of challenges, such as the religious sects and the difficulty of proposing a life-time commitment to young people. Again, the parish and the popular missions are normal places of contact, but Sanctuaries are also very important. The vastness of the continent makes large international youth meetings impossible but the leaders do manage to get together every three years.

Europe

Secularization is a very great challenge for this continent, especially for the countries in western Europe. In a few Units this particular challenges seems overwhelming and the first thing to suffer is the work with young people for which there is too often a lack of competent confreres. Other (V) Provinces – fortunately, the majority of them – have a confrere or a group responsible for RYVM. The preferred strategy is the promotion of catechetical meetings, days of shared experiences and shared reflections or various, simple events. Basically however, the most important work is done in the parishes and on the missions. The fact that the continent is not excessively large allows for frequent meetings of the leaders and a major youth gathering every three years.

The service of the Secretariat

On the international level, the General Secretariat, composed of representatives from the various continents, coordinates all the work of RYVM worldwide. Its task is essentially that of study and enlivening. Further information can be obtained by contacting one of the members of the Secretariat:

-   President: Serafino Fiore
sfiore@cssr.com

-   Asian Region: Willy Ngongo Pala
willy031069@yahoo.com

-   African Region: Raymond Mupandasekwa
rmupa@hotmail.com

-   North American Region: Santo Arrigo
sarrigo@redemptorists.ca

-   Latin American Region: Ariel Cesar Cattaneo
parielcattaneo@yahoo.com.ar

-   North Europe Region: Jens Bartsch
jens.bartsch@redemptoristen.de

-   South Europe Region: Alfonso Amirante
amarantejr@redentoristi.it

A global challenge

We have already mentioned how much young people today have in common despite the differences in history, geography and culture that distinguish the various peoples. We have spoken of their qualities, but it is also necessary to take into account a common challenge that they represent. This challenge can be called a culture of vocation. Wherever they may find themselves living, young Christians are called to incarnate their faith in a life-project, in some service and by playing a role in helping their brothers and sisters.

This is also a challenge for us Redemptorists, already engaged for many years in trying to discern better where the Lord is calling us, to make choices and perhaps to leave some traditional places of Redemptorist mission.

For the moment we can say that our presence is strongest on those continents where the poor are more numerous. But were we Redemptorists not founded for the most abandoned? Will we know how to opt, with still greater courage, in their favor? And you, young man or woman, do you not feel that this challenge questions you too? Do you not feel attracted by the call to give your life for the abundant redemption of Jesus Christ? If your response requires some further investigation, don’t hesitate to contact us.