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

To forgive is to set a prisoner free. When I forgive I discover that the prisoner is me!

Growing old happens to us without our choosing. Growing mature does not just happen. It’s a matter of choice. Of daily wise choices in fact. And life’s too short to make the wrong choice!

Don’t grow old; rather just grow up!

A letter which reached us, included here below, ask why young people appear to have so little interest in their church and the practice of their faith. Perhaps it’s because their perception of the church is that all it has to say to them is: "PRAY, PAY and OBEY!" And that’s not so attractive is it? But is that what church is about? PRAY, yes, and prayer can be exciting and fascinating. It also is to your spirit what breathing is to your body. Without prayer our spirit dies. At least, seven days without prayer makes one weak! But I’d like to suggest that what the church is saying to young people is not pray, pay and obey, but PRAY, PLAY and BE GAY! (in the original sense of that word of course!) God wants us to be happy. Just read Philippians 4:4-9 for example. And the church really cares lots about young people, and is not trying to be a spoil-sport, but to help all find happiness, true lasting joy, both here on earth and in the next world. Actually going around parishes, I am happily surprised to see that there are many teens in the benches on Sundays; my concern is why they don’t join in other activities apart from Sunday mass.

The No person is always part of the problem

The Yes person is always part of the answer

The No person always has an excuse

The Yes person always has a program

A No person sees a problem in every answer

A Yes person finds an answer to every problem

A No person says: "Nobody knows"

A Yes person says: "Let's find out!"

The No person says: "It may be possible but it's too difficult"

The Yes person says: "It may be difficult but it is possible"

The No person says: "That's the way it has always been done here!"

The Yes person says: "Let's keep looking for a better way of doing it!"

The No person says: "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people!"

The Yes person says: "I'm good, but not as good as I ought to be!"

When No persons make a mistake, they say: "It wasn't my fault"

When Yes persons make a mistake, they say: "I'm sorry, I was wrong"

The No persons tries to tear down those who are superior to them

The Yes persons tries to learn from those who are superior to them

A No person makes promises

Dear Youth animator / Parish priest…

Thank you for your letter enquiring whether young people who have children and those who are preparing themselves for marriage are still welcome to be part of the youth scene. There is no strict policy in the diocese concerning who is eligible to be part of the youth movements or parish youth groups. It varies from parish to parish and movement to movement and so all I can do is to suggest recommendations.

Since young people are in a constant state of flux, they move in and out of interest groups constantly during their teenaged years. Different age groups do not mix very easily either. Thus I think parishes should try to have a junior youth group for the 10-15 year olds; a senior youth group for the 15-21 year olds and a "young adults group" for the 19 upwards (till marriage) age group. There is need for some flexibility because the age of a young person does not always correspond to his/her level of maturity.

One thing is certain, once people are married, they need to be part of a different social process, and should preferably mix with fellow married couples for mutual support… However a young married couple can be ideal facilitators and animators a parish youth group. The senior youth group of a parish especially need role models as they prepare for their future married lives!

I know that as yet I have not answered your real sticky question about whether those who have a child and are not yet married, should be permitted to be part of the youth group. My gut feeling would be that such persons have become parents, and so are to assume the status of a mature adult, (even though they may still be quite young) and thus should move out of the youth circle. But the church being more a hospital for sinners than a museum for saints, I would answer "yes, of course they can still be members of the youth group, as long as they have recognized their mistake and are trying to live according to the gospel values. And hopefully, participating in the youth group is not a distraction but a help towards their assuming their responsibility as parents. It must remain clear that their being accepted into the youth group is not giving approval to parenthood before marriage, but is following the example of Christ who did not exclude anyone. We must remember also the unfairness that it is usually only the girl, the mother left holding the baby, who tends to be excluded on these grounds.

Also if you have an e.mail address – your own or a friends’ or parents that you can receive messages on, then please let us have it so that we can more easily inform you of what’s new through our e.mail drops. Get connected!

Tailpiece reflection:

After a pre-pilgrimage mass at Kensington parish we all piled into the bus and were on the N3 highway by 09h30. Along the journey we sang, prayed and had a few interactive exercises to help us get to know fellow pilgrims. The 40 of us came from 14 different parishes and none of us knew more than five other people.

We stopped at Inkamana monastery where we prayed at the graveside of Sr. Reinolda May . We reached the Ngome shrine, which is in the middle of a tea-estate at 4h45. The weather was misty, perhaps eery, or rather, mystical, but it was not cold. The first thing we did was pray awhile in the chapel, then found our sleeping quarters and explored the place until supper. After supper we enjoyed some ice-breaker games, learnt everyone’s name and had a spontaneous sharing session about what eucharist means to us. The day ended with and hour adoration of the blessed sacrament and benediction.

Saturday, we woke to bright sunshine and began with prayer to praise the Lord just before breakfast. As our chief aim for this pilgrimage was to pray that is what we did most of the weekend, but it was not boring, for it was interspersed with youthful activities. We learned different ways of praying the rosary; we had small group discussions; meditation times; singing; and visits to the chapel where the last apparition took place. After lunch on Saturday we hiked to Albert's hut. Then went to the spring to fetch some of it’s special water and on the way back, we prayed Way of Light. After supper we had celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation before going on for the all-night vigil which about a third of the group managed to complete.

Sunday morning began with mass, followed by brunch and departure at 9h30 with our bags full of Ngome souvenirs and our hearts and minds full of graces and happy memories. We arrived back safely at Kensington Parish at 16h00. Having come together as strangers for the most part on Friday, we parted as friends, all looking forward to a future opportunity to return to Ngome and meet up with our fellow pilgrims again sometime. I am so grateful that I had a chance like this to go and experience this special place of pilgrimage. "Mary, tabernacle of the most high, thank you and pray for us. " (By the way, look out for us in one of the editions of Drum magazine in the course of July! They came while we were in Ngome and did a couple of photoshoots!) [Busi Tshangase]

If you go to the movies these hols…

Do yourselves a favour – go see the movie – Simon Birch! It has a fantastic message about living out God’s purpose in our life, however limited we may be. Simon was a dwarf! And he was a real YES person.

From the mail bag:

Smuts Phala asks for other opinions:

Please help me find answers to my questions about the youth. Most of them attend church from the time they are babies and for as long as they are under their parents supervision. But from the age of 14, most stop going to church. Why is this so? I know their can be lots of reasons, but what is the real no 1 reason? Are their parents to blame? Is the church to blame? Are the youth just out of control? … I just want to try understand. God bless, S.Phala

(Answers to the Y-Link address or directly to Smuts Phala at I Stores Ltd, KwaMasiza,

Box 6220, Vanderbiljpark, 1900.)

The June Y-Link issue’s game-competition was won by Makeba Miya from Munsieville who wins a T-shirt for phoning in the first correct answer, which was from left to right -

Nominations for Youth Reps on the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC)

It has been decided that one out of the two reps will always be one of the 3 Department assistants. For the other rep, the following have been short-listed out of the nominations we published last month:

Mark Liesching from Reiger Park, Thabang Moeketsi from Sharpeville, Byron John from Victory Park and Skhumbuzo Nthsalintshali from the Cathedral. Depending on the show of support we receive for them, the Vicar will designate one of them for the task of being the second youth rep on the DPC!

June 16^th celebrations:

Did you sit in front of the TV all day, watching the comrades marathon, President Thabo’s inauguration, the Bafana-Zim soccer match or one of the hundred other programs?… If you did only that, be careful – you’ll be growing old prematurely as you spend more time just watching life instead of living it.

It was good to hear reports that some young people did prefer to spend the day outdoors and actively involved on the beautiful sunny day. A number of groups from the Vaal Parishes got together at Sancta Maria school, Vanderbiljpark, and others from the East Rand at St Catherines school in Germiston.

Some Upcoming events:

- SOCAYOF (Soweto Catholic Youth Forum) will be holding their annual regional conference on the 17^th July. Please contact Busi at 402-0757 for further details.

- Christ the King parish in Orlando East will be having a Concert on Sunday 1^st August at 12h00. Entrance R5.

- 8^th August from 13h00 to 17h00 at St Francis Parish, Sebokeng, Taize style afternoon of prayer… Contact Xola at 402-0757 for more info.

Missing in action?!

Fr Francois will be away from the 5^th – 25^th July preaching retreats in Congo.

For those thinking about God’s call and life-purpose:

Mark your diaries – There will be two "workshops" on this theme – One run in the parish of St Lewis Bertrand, Payneville from the 27^th September to the 1^st October. For further info contact Fr Dominic Scholten at 811-3761. And another will take place the weekend of the 24^th to 26^th September at Bosco. For further info contact Fr John Coleman at 949-1222 or 949-2361.

Everyone imagines that their home is on fire, and they have only time to save three objects, their most treasured possessions. Beside rescuing any person, what three things would they save. They could be asked to write their answers on paper first, which is placed in the middle of the group, before sharing their answers with everyone, because some may change their answers according to what they hear from others before them.