Youth Apostolate Verapoly: WHAT IS YOUTH APOSTOLATE?

The Youth Apostolate

The Youth Apostolate is the central body that co-ordinates all the youth activities in the Archdiocese. Being convinced of the importance and urgency of having a concerted effort in the field of youth ministry, Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil constituted this body on 28 May 2002. Within a short period of time the youth apostolate could accomplish considerable results in promoting and empowering the youth of the Archdiocese. Rev.Fr. Martin Thyparambil, the first director of the Youth Apostolate and Rev.Fr. Denny Palckapparambil who succeeded him,can be considered as two great personalities who blazed a trail in the field of youth apostolate in the Archdiocese.

1.Aim and Objectives

The youth apostolate, as mentioned before is the official body that co-ordinates all the youth activities in the archdiocese. All the activities of the youth apostolate are therefore in keeping with the mind of the Church which holds that the purpose of youth ministry should be “the integral growth of young people into Christ to enable them to be alive to the realities around them and to become active participants in building the Kingdom of God.”

The integral formation it envisages is evidently a formation in all levels of one’s being and above all a growth into Christ-likeness. The Christ of the gospels should become the source of inspiration for the youth to become human in dealings and prophetic in mission. Through the camps and other programmes organised by the youth apostolate in the Archdiocese, it always tries to instil in the young, the values and attitudes of Christ. This is done with the purpose of effecting their personal transformation which will eventually lead them to become channels of a socio-cultural transformation.

2.Activities and Programmes

The principal task of the youth apostolate is to co-ordinate all the existing youth movements in the Archdiocese and to organise common programmes for the young either in the Archdiocesan level or in the forane level. Since the functionality of the individual youth groups depends much on the interest and support of the parish priests and other religious and lay youth ministers in that locality, the youth apostolate makes it a point to consult and collaborate with these local youth ministers in all its activities.

During the short span of its existence, the youth apostolate with its constant and supportive assistance has greatly succeeded in infusing much vigour and enthusiasm in many of the youth groups. Besides that, it has also paved the way for beginning new youth groups in many parishes.

The youth apostolate is concerned not only about the youth who associate themselves with any of the youth groups, but it also is interested in the growth of other youngsters who do not belong to any group but constitute the major part of the Archdiocesan youth population. In view of empowering these young people, a number of common programmes are organised by the youth apostolate every year.

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