Youthful energy filled the air of the Kampoeng Media Resort in Yogyakarta, Indonesia as youth ministers from around the Jesuit conference gathered for their biennial meeting from 20 to 24 November.
Representatives from 11 countries across Asia Pacific gave updates on the activities happening in their provinces and regions as well as the challenges they faced in recent years.
Leonilla Sherlyana (Sherly) of Magis Yogyakarta shared that she appreciated how her fellow youth ministers from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand continue to accompany young people in spite of the difficulties they experience.
“Journeying with young people during a pandemic is not easy. However, it is even more difficult for them who have conflict in their country or their government does not allow people to gather,” she said. “They have struggles yet they persist and not lose hope.”
Several things were discussed at the meeting, including strengthening networks between Jesuits and lay youth ministers, preparations for Magis World Youth Day in Portugal in 2023, presentation of the JCAP Plan and Flagship Project, and Magis Formation updates.
“I heard about the JCAP Plan for the first time. I was interested in the discussion about introducing Ignatian Spirituality not only to Catholics but to people of other religions in Asia,” Sherly shared. “I realised that prayer and discernment can be done by anyone and is useful for increasing awareness even when making decisions.”
The youth ministers were guided by Fr Ed Quinnan SJ through an exercise in discernment in common and spiritual conversations.
“After going through the discernment process, our group acknowledged the need that young people have of being accompanied and formed continually in Ignatian Spirituality,” said Onisa Nainggolan, a member of Magis Jakarta.
Onisa was struck by what Indonesian Provincial Fr Benny Juliawan SJ imparted on the challenges in dealing with the youth. In particular, Fr Juliawan said that young people can get caught up in the abundance of activity. Ignatian Spirituality can help them to find a personal space where they can meet and grow with God.
Fr Juliawan also raised the importance of forming more young people to become leaders. They need to see reality and the world with an Ignatian perspective and embrace their role as partners in mission, he said.
Onisa noted the hopefulness of young people regarding their future.
“Young people today are always opening themselves up to a hopeful future,” she said. “We need to be open and authentic in our mission of accompanying young people. Gradually, I learned how God is present in every young person’s struggle to make sense of life.”
For Sherly, it is the awareness of their role in accompanying and forming young people that remained with her the most from engaging with the other youth ministers.
“The experience of being involved in the JCAP Youth Ministers meeting is definitely an experience I won’t forget,” she said. “This meeting sparked my awareness that it is important to understand the needs and anxieties of today’s youth, awareness of the importance of commitment to assisting young people, and awareness of the importance of continuing youth formation.”
She is strengthened by the knowledge that she is not alone in her mission. “I realised that listening to one another can actually strengthen us. There are many limitations, ranging from human resources, and facilities and infrastructure, to the absence of freedom of religion in the public sphere, and the political situation in several countries. Each of us has struggled to give our magis, and yet there is always hope.”