THE ARCHOBISHOP'S NEW OBSERVATIONS ON JESUS YOUTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | MARCH 2024

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil has known Jesus Youth closely from its early days. His two descriptive comments on JY are famous. Recently, he added two more phrases and made them four descriptions of the Jesus Youth movement. 

My thoughts go back to 1986 when the year’s National Charismatic Convention was held in Mumbai. A large group from Kerala took part. I was in charge of the Malayalam youth stream. As I was talking to this large youth group in a hall in Bandra, I noticed a priest sitting at the back of the hall eagerly attending my talk. I went to the priest after sending them into small groups for discussion. He introduced himself, ‘I am Bishop Thomas from Dibrugarh.’ That was the beginning of a warm and enduring friendship. When he heard about our youth work in Kerala, he said he wanted to come and see that.

After a few months, Bishop came to Ernakulam and stayed for a week. We had many meetings, and I also took him to visit groups at Trichur, Kottayam, and Arthunkal. In all the meetings, he got to know JY in its early days of growth, and he, in turn, shared much about the missionary work he was doing in northeast India. 

He suggested that getting to know the spirituality and style of the Taizé community would be good for Jesus Youth. This is how I went to Taizé in 1988 and spent two months in Taizé, France. Bishop Thomas had a special relationship with the Community’s founder, Brother Roger. As the Chairman of the Youth Commission in India, he invited Taizé to work with youth in India, and in 1985 and ’88, they organised two large gatherings in India. As Bishop Thomas sent me, I, too, had a special place, always sitting next to Brother Roger while I was there. That became the beginning of a close link between Jesus Youth and Taizé. Since then, we have been sending two Jesus Youths every year to Taizé.

A special connection

From Dibrugarh, he moved on to Guwahati as the Archbishop. Archbishop Thomas is well-known worldwide for his missionary zeal, writings on culture, and his work with tribal groups. He was the chairman of the evangelisation department of the Asian Bishops. In all their major training for bishops and Catholic movements, he would invite Jesus Youth also. And for all major Jesus Youth gatherings and international trainings, Archbishop Thomas would find time to be present. 

During one of the trainings for bishops held in Thailand, the Archbishop shared what he found special about Jesus Youth groups. He said these groups share a special culture even very young JY members imbibe. Two very important characteristics of this culture are: i) non-competitive leadership, and ii) non-threatening evangelisation.

The recent visit

In January this year, I had another chance to spend a weekend with Archbishop Thomas. He came on invitation by two universities for lectures and set apart two days for Jesus Youth. His talks to our group were on the practical aspects of sharing the Good News, the need to connect to cultures, and on conflict resolution. Everyone highly appreciated his new and original perspective on all these. 

Many of us made the best use of his time with us, often crowding around the dining table and continuing our chit-chat for long hours. In the common group, I had already mentioned his two remarks about Jesus Youth, and in our leader's chat, he said he would add a couple more to it. He talked about what he had noticed at the Jaago Conference in India, last year. ‘In Jesus Youth, there are no founders or big leaders, but all feel important and welcomed.’ In many other big movements, the personal clout of some leaders and their overshadowing presence became a heavy burn on them. Not so in Jesus Youth. Another specialty he mentioned was, ‘Like all others, Jesus Youth also sees the problems around them, but their response to these challenges becomes something very different and often very positive.’ Many in the Church get upset with what is happening in the country and become angry and negative, but he said these youngsters come up with creative responses. 

He summed it up

The renowned Ave Maria University here has a Mother Teresa Museum. As the Archbishop was very close to her, they wanted to hear much from him about the saint. I travelled with him to Ave Maria, and during our drive, he took time to sum up his observations on JY. He came up with four phrases.

What are these special marks of JY’s working style?

Non-competitive leadership: Everywhere, there is a growing culture of competition and being over-smart. But in Jesus Youth, it is different. Here, people acknowledge their own vulnerability and weakness and are ready to learn from others. Jesus and his plans take the central stage. Also, Jesus Youth does not want to compete with other groups around. Rather, the stress is on joyful collaboration.  

Non-threatening evangelisation: For many people, ‘mission’ is forcing or compelling others to accept what they believe. But in Jesus Youth, it is a way of eagerly connecting with others with appreciation and love. More than by preaching, others come to the Lord as they experience love, joy, and friendship. And with real concern, they pray for the others.

Self-effacing leaders: When movements and organisations grow, personality cults also develop. Unapproachable leaders take the lead.  In Jesus Youth, the key leaders consciously disappear to promote others. They focus on the example of Jesus in humility and service. Here there is collaboration and space for all kinds of people and their talents to grow. 

Creative response to negative social trends: All are concerned about the growing problems in society. Young people, especially, are showing all signs of degeneration, and that upsets all leaders. The Archbishop especially noted that the approach of Jesus Youth to all this is very positive and effective. Using what youth love, they move close to young people and gradually win them for Jesus. They use friendship, partying, picnics, art, games, and so on to be near the troubled youth. He was highly appreciative of this Jesus Youth mission approach.

Know and become who you are

Our small group that was around the Archbishop listening to his words of appreciation for the movement was overjoyed to hear his comments. But I thought the real challenge was to become this beautiful Jesus Youth that the Archbishop sees and loves. May the Lord give us more of his Holy Spirit to grow into this beautiful image.