IF THE LORD DOES NOT BUILD THE HOUSE…
166. The presence of a young person together with other youth and the
community represents a sign of hope for the Church’s road to the future. In order to be salt of the earth and light of the world it is necessary to cultivate a life of prayer and open up to the transcendent. Prayer is fundamental and the Marist charism offers youth a sacred and practical experience of its presence in our lives. We need to deepen and strengthen in the young different ways of praying with our lives, the way Champagnat was keen to do.
Methodological options in Marist Youth Ministry 167. By methodological options we understand the set of steps and
procedures that a group undertakes to attain its objectives and facilitate participation in a democratic way. In our process selecting a method is not a random happening since it determines our particular way of evangelizing youth. Methodological options help in dealing with simple yet fundamental questions that arise when we are with the young: “What should I do?” and “What steps should we take?” or, put another way, “What are the best instruments or dynamics that we can use?” 168. In this sense it is important to be aware that in our ministry with
youth, not just any method is useful for us. We must determine it according to the way it engages young people themselves, keeping in mind their own characteristics and realities: the geographical, cultural, social and economic context in which they live and the time when we encounter the group and its members. This being always in harmony with the educational options presented above.
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