JESUS YOUTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY 2021

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Discussion groups are so special for Jesus Youth

‘The Pope’s new encyclical has come. If a few of us get together online daily, can you help us study it in detail?’ The request came from a country leader.  But I said, ‘Mine will only be an animating presence. Every day one person can briefly introduce the portion to be read that day, all would study that part, then come back next day and discuss it.’ That was the beginning of a four-week long study – one that became an enriching formative journey for all of us. 

Such discussion groups can be simple and interesting, yet a highly beneficial approach to study and formation. What are some of its advantages? Persons of different sociocultural and intellectual levels gather; everyone listens and each one talks. In effect, it becomes a highly conducive ambience for building up confidence and self-esteem in everyone. When youth receive formation from such simple discussion groups, new ideas and initiatives spontaneously sprout and eventually rich leadership blossoms there.

I have heard people ask how the informal and simple approaches of JY produce such abundant fruits compared to the well-planned, content-rich and faith-equipping plans of many other movements and the larger Church. Emphasis on Christ encounter is surely the first. And the very next would be its creative approach of discussion groups. In the simple dynamics of a discussion group a deep transformation takes place in each person and, moreover, little by little an intimate Christian community gets built up there.

A new style gets formed

In June-July 1978 groups of young people met together in centres across Kerala. The purpose was to get a feedback on a proposed youth convention later that year. These were youth with some retreat exposure and had attended only Bible talks and prayer sessions. But during those feedback meetings in five different cities, something novel took place. After a brief introduction they were put into smaller groups for friendly discussions on the upcoming convention. For them this was something new, a first experience of a discussion group. They had always attended classes, but this time they discussed and took decisions. And where did we get this new approach? Our exposure to youth trainings in the Catholic college movement called AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation) had done the trick. And it worked – everyone talked, listened and experienced dynamics of participation and community.  

Later in 1982 for the first leaders training by Fr. Gino, the theme was ‘self-awareness’ and there too the dynamics were the same. Father would give short reflections based on the Bible and psychology after which we would go into groups to share. A few months later we started coming together in a regular fellowship called ‘First Line group’. We would gather to report, share and grow together, and slowly these simple interactive styles became characteristic of the Jesus Youth movement.  

What happens in a Discussion group?

One challenge in the early days of the movement was when good-hearted preachers would volunteer, ‘I can come and give you a talk, next time’, or youth asking, ‘Who will be taking class this month?’ For us it was a bold decision to try out another ‘model’ starting with the First Line group.

Pope Francis in his exhortation after the youth synod highlights this approach, ‘Friendship and discussion, often within more or less structured groups, offer the opportunity to strengthen social and relational skills in a context in which one is neither analysed nor judged. Group experience is also a great resource for sharing the faith and for mutual help in bearing witness. The young are able to guide other young people and to exercise a genuine apostolate among their friends.’ (Christus Vivit, 219)

What happens in a discussion group? There could be free banter on a topic, sharing of random thoughts or experiences, group study or analysis, planning for something and so on.  And in Jesus Youth they are apt for regular meetings like cells, small groups, ministry or team gatherings, and for small or medium prayer groups. For the occasional consultations, planning or outreaches too, such an informal style is quite suitable. 

What are some of the tips for effective discussion groups?

• A reflective and prayerful tone can be good, yet an ambience of informality, joy and fun will help shed masks and to have greater openness.

• Someone who thinks, ‘I am a leader; I know much’ – can be a misfit. Even if one is advanced in age and experience, it will help the group if they join in with humility.

• To hold a fellowship together a facilitator rather than a leader is needed, who more than being talkative, would encourage everyone to talk.

• In such a group, an idea gets built up brick-by-brick, moved by the great architect, the Holy Spirit. In that journey one should learn to be all ears and not to hurry too much. 

• Won’t there be clashes of ideas? Surely. These are forums where apparently conflicting ideas come out and people slowly learn to accept unexpected turns and witness how ‘the new creation’ appears.

• On such platforms you have to expect disturbing silences, lone voices, sudden bursting out and other surprising developments. When such things are handled well, it is then that real Christian formation takes place and gradually the Kingdom of God takes shape.

  
  

For long years we had this Tuesday sharing group in the city. It was there we learnt the basics of personal sharing, Christian commitment and ministry building. Youth from diverse backgrounds shared their prayer experiences, insights from the Bible and their missionary dreams. All of us were active members of a larger group that met on Wednesdays, but this sharing group lent us real formation. Gradually small and big initiatives like prison visits, slum area work, and reach out to the sick began to come out from that group. But more than all that I learnt this big lesson that a regular discussion group can be deeply formative for each participant and it will in turn bring out enduring fruits of mission. And that has also become a core style of Jesus Youth movement.