Info September 2018

Synode des évêques - octobre 2018
Les jeunes, la foi et
le discernement vocationnel
Le document de travail rendu public
(Suite de la page 10) neurs, vulnérables
et sans
voix, 8 septembre 2016). Beaucoup
risquent de finir victimes de la traite
d’êtres humains et certains disparaissent
littéralement dans le néant. À
ceux-là, il faut ajouter les jeunes de
deuxième génération, qui éprouvent
des difficultés en termes d’identité et
de médiation entre les cultures auxquelles
ils appartiennent, en particulier
quand il y a un grand écart
social et culturel entre le pays de
départ et le pays d’arrivée.
47. Comme de nombreuses CE le
soulignent, la migration de jeunes
représente un appauvrissement d’un
capital humain entreprenant et courageux
dans les pays d’origine, et une
menace pour le développement durable
de ces pays. Pour les sociétés – et
les Églises – qui les reçoivent, il s’agit
en revanche d’un énorme potentiel de
transformation, dont la réalisation
demande d’être accompagnée par des
programmes adaptés et clairvoyants.
À cet égard, toutefois, les jeunes de la
RP expriment une prudence qui ne
laisse pas d’interroger : « on note des
prises de position différentes sur la
question de l’accueil des migrants et
des réfugiés, ou sur l’enjeu de donner
une importance prioritaire à ce phénomène,
en dépit (Suite à la page 12)
Synod of Bishops - October 2018
Young people, faith and vocational discernment
The working document has been released
The 15 th Ordinary General Assembly of
the Synod of Bishops is scheduled to
take place from 3 to 28 October 2018.
Its theme is "Young people, faith, and
vocational discernment" and its aim is
to "accompany young people on their
way of life towards maturity so that,
through a process of discernment, they
can discover their life project and realize
it with joy, opening the encounter
with God and with men, and actively
participating in the building up of the
Church and society."
Hereafter are excerpts from the
working document which are of
particular interest to Caritas organisations
in Africa.
27. Looking at society’s contradictions,
several Bishops Conferences (BC)
notice young people’s sensitivity and
engagement, also through volunteer
work, which is a clue to their willingness
to take responsibility and their
wish to make the most of the talents,
skills and creativity they have. Among
the issues that are closer to their hearts,
social and environmental sustainability,
discrimination and racism stand
out. Youth involvement often follows
unprecedented paths, also by exploiting
the potential of digital communication
to achieve mobilization and political
pressure: the dissemination of lifestyles
and consumer and investment models
that are critical, based on solidarity and
mindful of the environment; new forms
of engagement and participation in
society and politics; new modes of
welfare and protection for weaker individuals.
As shown by several recent
examples from every continent, young
people are able to mobilize, in particular
to support causes they feel directly
involved in and when they can truly
be key players and not simply tag along
other groups.
28. Young people underline how the
image of the Church appears to be
“dicothomic”, when it comes to promoting
justice: on the one hand, the
Church wants to be present in the folds
of history alongside the least of our
brothers and sisters, on the other hand
it still has a lot to do to eliminate
situations of corruption, often grave
and widespread, whereby she runs the
risk of conforming to the world rather
than bringing an alternative that is
inspired by the Gospel.
31. A greater or lesser number of
young people feel they are a living part
of the Church and firmly express this
through their active engagement in the
Church. There are young people who
«experience the Church as very close
to them, in places such as Africa, Asia,
and Latin America, as well as in different
global movements; even some
young people who do not live the
Gospel feel connected to the Church»
(Pre-Synodal meeting - PM 7). Several
BC note that young people are – and
should be considered as – an integral
part of the Church and that committing
to them is a fundamental dimension of
pastoral care. It is not unusual to see
youth groups, even the ones belonging
to movements and associations, that
are not really integrated into the life of
their communities: overcoming this
dynamics of separation is a synodal
goal for some BC.
32. Despite the fact that many young
people mention the risk of being sidelined,
there are many ecclesial activities
in place in which they are actively
engaged and even key players. The
different forms of volunteer work
stand out, (Continued on page 13)
Caritas Africa Info: page/página 11