YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE OMI ZAMBIA DELEGATION
The 34th General Chapter of the Missionary Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, in 2004, invited all the Oblate units throughout the
world to take deliberate action to place a high priority in the
ministry of the Province/Delegation or Mission on the Youth
Ministry.
This call came at the right time for the Zambian Delegation.
We had already in place, definite programs for developing and
implementing Youth Ministry in our Missions. It is important to
state, that the interest in the Youth Ministry is a heritage
from the time of our Founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod.
Every Oblate tries to emulate the Founder in cultivating an
interest in the needs of the young people and helping them to
develop a particular friendship with Christ. Thus the
delegation, since the year 2000, had placed a great emphasis on
the spiritual growth and development of the youth in our
Missions.
Each year, at the end of the academic year, the scholastics
return to Zambia from South Africa and spend the month of
December in the Missions. They, in conjunction with the Regents
at each Mission are given full responsibility for the youth
Ministry. Together with the Pastor, the Pastoral Team Members,
and the Executive Youth Council, they explore the areas upon
which to focus the youth Ministry for the coming year and then
choose the ones that will be implemented.
They develop the activities that will serve to maximize the
youth participation in the life of the Church. With the presence
of the Scholastics and Regents, during the first week each
December, there is an intensive regemen of activities which
serves to kick off the youth program and get it well under way
for the coming year.
This program, since its inception six years ago, is called
Oblate Youth Outreach - OYO.
Among the variety of activities that are selected are some
short educational segments on Church History, Sacraments, Social
Teachings of the Church, Religious Life, Human sexuality, a
short Retreat Segment, etc. There are social activities included
as well. These are conducted at the main Church and in as many
of the larger outstations as it is feasible within the
limitations of time and travel. As a Delegation, we value the
moral and spiritual preparation of the youth. We are convinced
that adequate spiritual and intellectual empowerment could help
them to become responsible citizens with a heart to care for
themselves, for others and for their country.
We also provide training programs for individuals and the
youth team leaders to help them to prepare themselves and their
teams to work in the Mission field in the different Small
Christian Communities. There are many other suitable programs
which are organized to help the youth in their spiritual, social
and human development such as: Inter-Parish youth gatherings,
Sharing meals, Ongoing Training, Parties and recreational
outings, Prayer Time Together and sharing in the Eucharist,
Planning and developing their own meetings, Schoolies and
Leavers evenings, Sports, Peer education programs from other
youth groups, etc. These are our ways of reaching out to the
youth.
From our experience, these activities seem to provide the
youth with opportunities to participate in the leadership and
evangelization in our Missions. It also provides them with
experiences which help to prepare them to move successfully into
various careers and to succeed in them as they progress into
their adult lives.
Ministering to the Youth and the young ones is part of our
Mission.
Fr G. Mpundu posing with children after Mass
( By Fr Cyril Keba)
