KOCHI: In December 1985, about 1000 people, a vast majority of them youngsters, from all over Kerala met for a conference at the Sacred Heart College, Thevera. The meeting under the banner ‘Jesus Youth Kerala’ was held to formulate wider plans for the Catholic youth in the state such as making them socially responsible, nurture leadership qualities and also focus on personality development. Also, it was held in the year which was proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Youth Year.
The movement- the first such in the history of the Catholic Church in India -which had its beginnings in Thevera, is now spread across 35 countries under the Jesus Youth (JY) and is less than 40 years old. Early this month it received one of the most prized recognition: a Pontifical approval. It is the first laity movement in India and the second (Couples of the Christ from Philippines being the first in 2000) in Asia to get the Vatican approval.
Vatican awarded the Juridical approval as ‘International Private Association of the Faithful’ on May 20. Under this decree, the Holy See (Vatican) becomes competent for all matters concerning Jesus Youth.
“Though the Vatican will oversee the movement, the Jesus Youth will be autonomous,” said Edward Edezeth, the present animator of the international formation team, who was among the people who led the 1985 meeting at Thevera.
Origin
Edezheth says though the name ‘Jesus Youth’ first came up at the Thevera meet, the movment began as early as 1976 when a Charismatic renewal came to Kerala from Bombay. In 1978, a youth network of leaders was formed with the aim of making youngsters aware on social issues, before the 1985 meet which coined the name Jesus Youth.
K K Joseph, Alicekutty, Fr Abraham Pallivathukkal, were some of the pilots of this conference.
This community is now led by C C Joseph, a Keralite, in the international level.
“ From its small beginnings in Kerala, the Lord took our movement to different parts of India and carried us across 35 countries around the globe! And now, God has given us the privilege of being the first ever Ecclesial movement from India to receive this Canonical approval from the Holy See and the second movement in the history of the Church in Asia,” said Manoj Sunny, the Jesus Youth International Formation Coordinator.
Spirituality Reinvented
Spirituality has always appeared to be a far fetched concept for the youngsters. But JY speaks a language of spirituality understood and embraced by the youth.The JY activities professes the celebration of spirituality through its mindblowing musical prformances and the hip-hop dances and emotionally stirring theatricals adds to the effect marvelously, giving new dimensions to the traditional concepts.
Music movement
Jesus Youth has also spawned a music movement from Kerala. The Rexband, the first Catholic music band from the Indian subcontnent, which has celebrities like Alphonse and Stephen Devassy, is a big draw at Catholic meets across the globe. Other bands such as Voxchristy and Crosstoc are also slowly becoming popular among the youth, said Sunny.
Sphere of Mission
The diverse ministries like campus ministry, teens ministry, professionals ministry, musical and audio visual ministry, parish ministry, profile ministry, outreach ministry carry out the Jesus Youth lifestyle to the masses whether it be in the medical field, film field, engineering or teaching field. There are many JYs who have opted for a life, to serve the poor and the suffering ones, thus turning out to be role models to be looked upon.
Voice from the film fraternity
Sijoy Varghese who played the cool coach in the film Banglore Days, in real life is a vibrant JY to whom the youngstersv lend their ears, most earnestly. Many NGOs worldwide, are being headed by Jesus Youths, who render their services for the society. Like Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church opined, at the thanks giving ceremony held at Angamaly on May 22: “ The world is now looking forward for more from the well knit ecclesiastical Jesus Youth community”.
source:thenewindianexpress