Prepared by: Richard G.

Pazcoguin UST-IR

THE CATHOLIC YOUTH

Studies show that young people who attend Mass frequently are more like likely to report that they feel closer to God and that their Catholic faith plays an important role in

THE CATHOLIC YOUTH

Young people desire to know more about their faith, regardless of whether they participate in a religious education program

THE CATHOLIC YOUTH

Young people who participate in at least one retreat, rally, conference, mission trip, or extension service project report significant increase in their closeness to God, the degree that faith is important in their lives,

THE CATHOLIC YOUTH

Youth are quite spiritually attuned: an extremely high percentage report that they are close to God; they pray alone, and use traditional Catholic experiences in their private

THE CATHOLIC YOUTH

It seems impossible to empower young people to live as disciples if the young are not present in the faith community.

Todays young people are in search for meaning in life. Sometimes they are misguided so they turn to the wrong things. This doesnt mean they dont have a sense of God. The 10th World Youth Day held in Manila, Philippines last January 1995 was a concrete manifestation that the Filipino youth are not apathetic about their faith. The closing mass attended by four million people is the largest audience ever in attendance of a Papal Mass.

In Christ, we find a God who is not a stranger to the struggles of young people. No doubt he was a good son but surely he would have been involved in some conflicts perhaps with his parents or with other young people. The Scriptures are silent about the teenage years of Jesus. What we know is that he grew in wisdom, in age, and in grace (Lk 2:52). This doesnt mean his teenage life was abnormal. He was fully human. He went through everything we are going through.

Pope John Paul IIs teachings about Christ to the Youth

Have you already discovered Christ who is the Way? Yes, Jesus is for us a way that leads to the Father. You young people often find yourselves at crossroads, not knowing which path to choose, which way to go; there are so many wrong paths, so many facile proposals, so many ambiguities. In moments like this, do not forget that Christ, with his Gospel, his example, his commandments, is always and alone the safest way, the way that

Pope John Paul IIs teachings about Christ to the Youth

Have you already discovered Christ who is the Truth? Truth is the deepest need of the human spirit. Young people especially are hungry for the truth about God and man. Christ is the Word of truth uttered by God himself, in response to all the questioning of the human heart. He is the One who reveals fully to us the

Pope John Paul IIs teachings about Christ to the Youth

Have you already discovered Christ who is the Life? Each one of you is anxious to live life to its fullness. You live with great hopes, with great plans for the future. But do not forget that the true fullness of life is to be found only in Christ. He alone gives the strength and the joy of living, in spite of any limit or external impediment. Yes, DISCOVERING CHRIST IS THE FINEST

Pope John Paul IIs teachings about Christ to the Youth

Open the doors to Christ! Open your hearts to Christ! Welcome him as a companion and guide to your journey!

CHRIST IS A FRIEND, A BROTHER. He always finds time for us. He listens to our stories. He laughs with us. He cries with us. We cant trust him with our secrets. He accepts us for what we are. He gives us good advise.

HES JUST A TEXT MESSAGE AWAY. His messages are in the bible. We can contact him anytime, anywhere.

Sometimes we call him PAPA JESUS. Though he is our brother, he is for many of us a Father-image. And indeed that is what he is- the image of God the Father. He is our provider and protector. We can lean on him in times of trouble. He sees to it that things turn out well for us.

HE IS OUR SAVIOR. When we stumble and fall, he helps us rise again. When things go bad, he is always there to help us and to get us out of our misery.

HE IS OUR GUIDE. Amidst the storms of life, he teaches us the right way. He gives us directions on what we should do in order to live holy and happy lives.

HE IS A PASSIONATE LOVER. His words are music to our ears. He is a source of inspiration.

HE IS A COOL PERSON. Its fun to hang out with him. Hes never boring.

HE IS THE KING OF THE ROAD. He knows where to bring us. He leads us safely to our destination.

HE IS OUR IDOL, OUR ROLE MODEL. His life serves as the pattern of ours. He is our coach. He teaches us to play the game of life fairly.

As young people, we are faced with many problems and issues that challenge us to take a stand and make a choice. In face of all these, we ask: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? The way of Christ should be our way. If we follow Christ, we shall overcome the turbulent storms of this difficult yet wonderful and exciting stage of our lives that we call YOUTH.

When Pope John Paul II visited us in 1995, he sent us, the youth, on a mission- the same mission Christ gave his apostles: As the Father has sent me, so I send you. We, the young people of today, are not mere beneficiaries of the Good News. We are agents of the Good News as well. We commit ourselves to illumine the world with the light of Christ which we bear. Jesus loves us. We cant help but tell the world of His love.