Implicitly or explicitly, every pastoral plan sees to guiding young people towards an encounter with Jesus Christ and transforming their lives in the light of the Gospel; SYMFoR,  p.149 (cf. C. 22, 33, 34, 36; R. 7, 13)

Promising Aspects

Through the dimension of Education to the Faith, the Salesian Youth Pastoral Ministry in the province has ensured the spiritual development of the young to a large extent. Efforts are made to assist and foster human growth by providing a programme of evangelization and education. Proclamation of the Good News in every part of the Province has brought in transformation of life of the young. Young people are continually accompanied to experience and encounter Christ.

Guidelines

• Paying more attention to the efforts of evangelization in a multi-religious context and accompanying the Catholic youth towards deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.

• Exploring creative methods of imparting the basic tenants of Christian faith to the young, so as to enable them to draw strength from the riches of the Word of God and sacraments.

• Developing our resourcefulness and expertise in offering services such as youth mass, youth retreats and youth prayer conventions.

Questions and Answers:

EVANGELIZATION

1. What are the means used to evangelize the young of other faiths in our settings?

Talks, Seminars, Retreats, and workshops, folklores on Various themes like Modern challenges, Choices and Moral Values, Methods and Approach, Psychology of Youth, Media & Value Formation, Social & Political Awareness, Moral Judgment, Integral Value Formation, God-Experience, Religion & Value Formation. Activities that foster responsibility and activities that foster spiritual maturity are envisaged and organized.

2. How effective are the methods of Evangelization used in our settings?

There is first the aim of helping people of different religions to live together in peace and harmony. This is a task which is ever more urgent in a world becoming increasingly multicultural and multi-religious. It is a task which implies, as we know, overcoming prejudices, battling against indifference, creating understanding.

A further step in Evangelization is to work together in the service of humankind. The problems with which our world is faced are so great that there is need of the efforts of all to thee up to them. Thirdly, to help them holistic formation that helps every person in our set up honest citizens and believer

3. What would you suggest to make the work of evangelization more effective in our settings?

Consistency of programmes and a conscious effort of being living witnesses to the Gospel truths.

CATECHESIS

1. How effectively is the Faith formation carried out in our various settings?

The effectiveness of Faith Education is demonstrated by the acquisition of Knowledge and of Values. The text books do not elaborate much on the personal aspect of the Christian faith but they seem to be at a early period of growth of the student. The correlation between intellectual values and Knowledge says the Faith education classes do not challenge the intellectual aspect of the Faith education classes. Most lessons communicate beliefs, traditions, deeds and the story of the Christian community which encourages the student for active participation therein. Social values that come in the text books make the students at least think of the society. Therefore the four levels of contribution namely personal, community, intellectual and social in a way is positively motivating our beneficiaries with our interventions.

2. Are the Catechism Teachers/Faith formators qualified to teach Catechism?

Most of them who handle the faith formation classes in all our settings have not had a systematic training in imparting faith education. They are usually our school teachers who help out taking faith education classes.

3. What type of ongoing training is provided for the Catechism teachers?

Training Programmes for the Catechism teachers and catechists to evolve initiatives in catechizing the Catholic target group for and with whom we work is organized by a systematic programme of formation and training called PACE Professional Approach to Christian Education for eight full days at different time of the year. The topics dealt are:

• Fundamentals of Faith Education
• Methods and Approaches of Catechesis
• Integral Faith Formation
• Conscience Formation
• Creative catechesis
• Communicating faith
• Catechetical Documents
• Psychology and Religion
• Bible and Catechesis
• Child, Youth Catechesis
• Catechesis and Media
• Lesion Plan & Class Presentation

4. What are your suggestions to make the faith formation more effective in our various settings?

• The profession of the Faith Educator should be emphasized. Faith educators need to realise that is a call to nurture the faith of the young and to walk alongside with them in their faith journey competently.
• The environment of the school depends on the core beliefs of the management. Therefore, type of mission portrayed by the setting should be well planned.
• Christian education promotes the integration of persons at the personal community and societal levels. Therefore out setups has a definitive place and concrete role to play in the context of diversity where Christians are minority.
• Must care to promote Catholic Character and Identity of a Catholic school.