A monthly publication of the Youth Department of the Diocese of Johannesburg

Thought for the month:

The TV is my shepherd; I shall not want!

It makes me to lie down on the sofa.

It leads me away from the faith, distracting my soul.

It leads me in the path of sex and violence, for the sponsors' sake!

Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibility,

there will be no interruption for the TV is with me!

Its video and remote control, they comfort me.

It prepares a commercial for me.

In the presence of my worldliness

it anoints my head with individualism and consumerism;

my coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me

all the days of my life;

Heritage day – September 24^th , saw a crowd of approximately 450 young people from 20 parishes at Cathedral Hall from 12h30 to 17h30, who joined together for a festival of choral, theatrical, and dance items. Time constraints only permitted a total of 20 items not lasting more than 10 minutes. Items had to be presented by a group of not less than three persons, and not more than 25! The winners of the choral section were the Youth Group from St Alberts parish, Vosloorus, followed by the Youth choirs from Nyolohelo Parish, Sebokeng and Sacred Heart, Katlehong, who tied in second place, closely followed by the choir from St Michael’s parish, Meadowlands.

The drama category was won by the Youth Group from Eldorado Park, and the group from Mohlakeng – Our Lady of Africa parish, won second prize. In the dance section, 6 young ladies from St Benedicts, were awarded the only prize in this category for a superb and original gumboot dance routine.

Youth groups! Why are they not more popular? Do you consider your parish youth group as merely a refuge for those who can’t get a date on a Friday night, or those with nothing better to do on Saturday / Sunday afternoon. What makes it un-cool to tell your friends that you’re going to the church youth group? If you have the choice of going to a movie with a friend or going to the parish youth group, which do you choose? Is the youth group not a great opportunity to widen your circle of good friends? Perhaps our youth groups are not youth-friendly enough. Perhaps they too large and impersonal. Perhaps, to ensure that they are more personal and friendly, and promote a sense of belonging, we need to keep them "down to size". Age matters as we’ve said in previous Y-Links, and so does size!… Yes, size does matter! – as Godzilla’s catch phrase declares. Sometimes we hear some boasting that they have 70 members in their youth group. That’s not a group, that’s a mob! Youth groups don’t need to be XXLs. A nice size is anything between 10 and 25. Less than 10, do some serious recruiting! More than 25, think about splitting up into smaller units, according to age or interests. Every parish should have at least one, and there’s no rule about not being allowed more than one! Remember Jesus had only 12 in his "youth group!"

Correspondence:

I read your letter in the September issue of the Y-Link with sadness. You say that there is nothing for you in the church. I disagree. I find there’s lots. It seems to me you only go to church out of habit. Start getting involved in church activities and you’ll see the difference it makes. Also, how do you know that the youth group is not interesting, if you don’t attend? Have you spoken to any of its regular members? Do you even know their names? Before passing judgement, please go experience several meetings. I’ll be praying for you that you may grow more positive towards your fellow youth and parish. Yours in his service. M.Spadino (Malvern Parish)

• Thanx to M.Spadino for his response. Also we apologise for any hurt we may have caused by publishing Lerato’s letter last month, to her parish and parish priest, and subsequently even to herself. From our part we did not intend to agree with the criticism, even if it may have appeared that we did, by awarding Lerato R10 for her letter, which echoes many statements made by young people, that we hear from all around the diocese, even when the parish they are members of is really very youth-friendly and has plenty going for its young people. We did hope for a reaction, but did not wish to offend. Until now we had received so little feedback, we wondered whether anyone at all reads the Y-Link. We wish the Y-Link to be a LINK! Between us all! A forum where young people of the diocese can express their views. Suffice it to say, for future reference, that the opinions expressed in the Y-Link do not necessarily reflect the views of the Youth Department, the Bishop, or the Pope! In matters of Faith and Morals however we commit ourselves to 100% RC orthodoxy!

"I have noticed a very disturbing trend among our youth. The rosary is being used as a fashion item or a good luck charm. Just walk around the shopping malls, visit rave taverns, kwaito shops, and you are sure to see several luminous rosaries. Ask any of the wearers if they ever pray the rosary, the majority say they don’t. Or ask those who display rosary beads on the rear view mirrors of their car or taxi, and you get the same negative answer.

I think the leaders of the church must educate members to understand that rosary beads are not a fashion accessory or good luck charm, but is a potent prayer binding us to Jesus and his mother."

• from M. Spadino, who is awarded this month’s R10 for his letters.

This disease was first discovered in about 34 AD, by a husband and wife team, Ananias and Sapphira. It is an acute condition which renders the patient's hand immobile when called upon to move in the direction of the wallet or purse, and then to the collection plate. The remedy is to remove the patient from the house of worship, since it is clinically observable that this condition does not occur in other places, such as the restaurant, supermarket or motor-car garage. Of course the best therapy, a sure and lasting cure, is to get right with God and neighbour, as this affliction is symptomatic of a more serious problem: heart trouble!

- We should give for the same reason that we should exercise our bodies. Our muscles are made so that they are kept in peak condition by strenuous exercise. If you "save" your muscles by not making them do anything, you actually diminish them and they become like jellyfish. This is true of our "giving" muscles too. God has made us to be givers. It is not something we have to do in order to please him. It is something we need to do to keep ourselves "in shape". Givers generally laugh a lot and have very little if any, self-pity. They do not constantly calculate cost-benefit results. They are not burdened by their possessions.

- Giving is really to the givers own benefit therefore! But it does not make us automatically a saint! You can give without loving! Still you cannot love without giving. And in giving we simply reflect God's image - he who endlessly gives. Meanwhile, miserliness diminishes our image of God. The more we give the more we are. So try to be GO-GIVERS rather than GO-GETTERS!

31/10 - The next DYF (diocesan youth forum) meeting will be at Cathedral Place, 10h00 to 12h00.

All welcome. The September DYF meeting, if you missed it, was addressed by Mrs Laraine Flood (the DPC chairperson) and Bro Kevin McDonnell (Director of the New Catholic Bible Youth College).

11/10 – St Peter and Paul Youth Club, Seshego, invites all interested to a cultural day. Come dressed in traditional costumes. Starts at 11h00, but those who wish to join the parish for mass, that’s at 07h00. Entry: R3.00. Contact Samuel at (015) 2230944

17/10 - Vaal Youth Day at Sancta Maria School – a get together from 09h00 to 17h00 of young people from every parish and youth movement (hopefully!) of the region. An opportunity to meet, have some fun, some interesting input and also to plan for regional activities and events. For details, contact Xola at 402-0757.

28-30/08 – The Soweto region held its conference at De Mazenod Centre, Germiston.

9 out of Soweto’s parish were represented, and input was provided by Molefi Mataboge from the South African Association of Youth Clubs, Ike Thororo of NACTED, and Joseph Dube of Gun-Free SA.

The East Rand Conference which ws due to take place on the weekend of the 18-20/09, had unfortunately to be cancelled at the last minute because of lack of interest despite persistent notification of those whom we would have hoped to be inerested.

26/09 – Regional Youth Day held at Veritas College. A program consisting of a variety of activities and speakers, including the Covenant Players and Pro-Life. If you missed it, you missed out!

Meetings

We hear news of more and more young adults get-togethers – a growing phenomenon! Although National policy defines youth as anyone between 13 and 35, those who are finished school or at least over 21 years of age, develop interests and concerns which are quite different from teenagers, and need to form different fellowship groupings to those of the standard youth group. They need to work out their own focus and be helped to find their niche, but as opposed to teenaged groups, apart from the moral support of the pp and ppc they should be self-sufficient!

Notice:

Fr Francois will be away in a mission in Matubatuba, KZN, for 7 weeks to try learn isiZulu. Anastacia, Norman and Xola will be holding the fort during that time.

Youth Bible College – January 99 – November 99