Kerala: ’Jesus Youth’ recognised by Vatican

Mangalore Today News Network

Kochi, June 02, 2016: The ’Jesus Youth’ (JY) movement – the first laity movement in India and the second in Asia to get the Pontifical approval – early this month held a thanks giving ceremony on May 22 at Angamaly in Kerala.

Vatican awarded the Juridical approval as ‘International Private Association of the Faithful’ on May 20. Under this decree, the Holy See (Vatican) becomes competent for all matters concerning Jesus Youth.

“Though the Vatican will oversee the movement, the Jesus Youth will be autonomous,” said Edward Edezeth, the present animator of the international formation team.

The movement now spread across 35 countries had its beginnings in December 1985, proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Youth Year. About 1000 people, a vast majority of them youngsters, from all over Kerala met for a conference at the Sacred Heart College, Thevera.

The meeting under the banner ‘Jesus Youth Kerala’ was held to formulate wider plans for the Catholic youth in the state such as making them socially responsible, nurture leadership qualities and also focus on personality development.

Edezheth, who was among the people who led the 1985 meeting, says though the name ‘Jesus Youth’ first came up at the Thevera meet, the movement began as early as 1976 when a Charismatic renewal came to Kerala from Bombay. In 1978, a youth network of leaders was formed with the aim of making youngsters aware on social issues.

The diverse ministries like campus ministry, teens ministry, professionals ministry, musical and audio visual ministry, parish ministry, profile ministry, outreach ministry, prison ministry carry out the Jesus Youth lifestyle to the masses whether it be in the medical field, film field, engineering or teaching field.

There are many JYs who have opted for a life, to serve the poor and the suffering ones, thus turning out to be role models to be looked upon. Many NGOs worldwide are being headed by Jesus Youths, who render their services for the society.

Jesus Youth has also spawned a music movement from Kerala. The Rexband, the first Catholic music band from the Indian subcontinent, is a big draw at Catholic meets across the globe.

As Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church, opined at the May 22 ceremony: “The world is now looking forward for more from the well-knit ecclesiastical Jesus Youth community.”