Syro Malabar Youth Movement (SMYM)
Syro Malabar Youth Movement (SMYM) is the official youth movement of the Syro Malabar Church. SMC has more than 1.6 million catholic youth scattered all over the world. Although we have been working hand in hand with movements like ICYM in the past years, we had always longed for a youth movement for our Mother Church. The Laity Commission of the Syro Malabar Church took up the initiatives in 2011 to coordinate the different youth movements in our church and to bring our youth together. Efforts were continued for many years and as an outcome, we now have the Syro Malabar Youth Movement (SMYM), with the approval of the Synod of Bishops. This official Youth Movement of the Syro Malabar Church, officially commenced on the 30th day of August 2014. The Syro Malabar Youth Commission was also constituted in the first session of the Synod of Bishops, 2015. The SMYM is in its infancy, but is flourishing with a decisive presence in all the 29 dioceses and four major mission centers of the Syro Malabar Church in India and abroad. The SMYM champions and lives out its mission to follow the tradition and beliefs of the Syro Malabar Church for the Kingdom of God and Society, to strive for the integral development of the youth and to bind together the youth of the SMC. SMYM has started out with various programmes and activities for the holistic development of youth aligning its members with the religious and social causes of the Church. Some of the programmes designed by the SMYM are as follows: Nurturing families living in the railway colonies and slums in different parts of India. Leadership formation and trainings for future leaders of the church. Helping the youth with continuous guidance and support on faith formation. Active promotion of the life, values and church teachings using the social media. Support and guidance for the professional development of the youth. Cultural exchange program of the youth of the mission centers with youth in Kerala. Campus programmes against substance abuse and formation of de-addiction clubs on campuses.
YOUTH APOSTOLATE IN EUROPE
The Visitator noticed that, one of the most important and serious concerns, was the pastoral care for the Youth of the Syro-Malabar Communities. Lack of Spiritual Formation to Youth Addictions to different types of Situations viz alcoholism, and pornography, falling to different isms (secularism, atheism, communism and consumerism), Cultural Crisis and Inadequate Faith Formation all led to the need of the Formation of Youth Apostolate.
Taking into consideration the precarious situation, Fr. Binoj Mulavarickal was appointed director of the Youth Apostolate for whole Europe in the year 2016. This Apostolate works in three areas.
SYRO-MALABAR TEENS MINISTRY
Teenagers need a special care who are the youth in the making. They not only need catechism instruction but also formation of building fellowship. We have initially started this ministry in Belfast and at least five times a three-day programme was conducted which found great effect in the teens. In Germany, we saw that there are a good number of teens in the migrant families who need special care and concern. In Germany, the teen programmes were mainly done through online.
During Covid time, there were regular monthly prayer meetings through online to all teens. A Grace Time was planned for having Biblical Studies. The first ever fellowship of teensof Europe was conducted on 28-30 December 2023 in Malta.
SYRO-MALABAR YOUTH MOVEMENT
This movement is a formation movement in view of tomorrow’s church leaders in the ministries of pastoral care as priests, religious and lay leaders. The main activities are centred on three things.
A. Spiritual, liturgical, catechetical and ecclesial formation B. Formation of Unit Executives, Regional Team, National Team and European Team and Animators’ Team C. Group Building Awake is both unit-wise and national-wise program meant for the selected members of the youth from the unit/units gather for prayer, adoration, confession, reflection and Holy Qurbana, for a spiritual renewal and to have a positive outlook towards the future life with clear Christian vision and a time to reflect their vocation of being a true Christian and to be the part of the Church in is missionary enterprise.
Rejoice is the follow up of Awake Programme and the non-residential Youth Programme is also called Rejoice. Grand Awake is a European level program, where selected youth from different countries gather once in a year. This has been conducted in Rome, Switzerland and Ireland. Many interactive sessions, workshops and seminars are held to know more about the teachings of the Catholic Church and specifically the rich
liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Next Grand Awake will be held in Rome from 25
July to 28 July 2024.
Arise is a global combined mission endeavour of the SM youth. Youth from the eparchies of Melbourne, Chicago, Mississauga, Great Britain and the Apostolic Visitation of Europe joined hands together to this splendid gathering in Rome. This is called a combined mission because the challenges of the youth of the migrant world are almost similar and their roots of origin are the same. Meeting Pope Francis for an hour was the main highlight of thisevent. 5 bishops, 15 priests and 75 participants stayed together to reflect on their ecclesialidentity rooted in prayer and reflection. The pilgrimage through the eternal city was an amazing event.
Faith Hub began mainly during the Covid time as a Q& A online session. There were meaningful discussions on topics like Holy Qurbana, Confession, Marriage, Homosexuality, Sacraments in general, Moral Life, Theology of Body, Faith and Reason, Science and Religion, Theism and Atheism etc. This was a monthly program which had 15 episodes.
Food for the Soul is a new venture done regularly on Sundays. It is a prayer evening of one hour, for whole Europe meditating on the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. Usually there will be a 15 minutes message by a priest. With praise and worship this gathering ends.
Scuola Fidei is a training programme for the youth personnel, meant for deepening in the church teachings intended for the whole European Youth which would be starting in the endof this year. Cenacle is a leadership training programme for youth which include themes and workshop sessions on Christian leadership skills. Promise is the second level leadership training programme for those who have attended Cenacle. Companion is meant for the formation of youth animators. This was a six months module monthly based which facilitated the animators with clear insights for their future mission. 6.3.2.2.11. Three Months’ Counselling Courses for Youth Mentors meant to have a professional skill for the eligible candidates (mainly women religious) to help the youth for spiritual sharing sessions. The training is given by experts in psychology of formation and counselling. The first session commenced on 8 November 2023.
