Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kochi (Fides Service) - Jesus Youth International JYI, a Catholic charismatic movement started in Kerala to serve the mission of the Church and carry Jesus Christ to all young people is involving an increasing number of young people in prayer and missionary initiatives..
For the past two years a JYI group of young people has been preparing to take part in World Youth Day in Germany this August. Events of preparation have involved many more young people including non Christians.
“We know that young people long to meet Jesus and stay near to Him and this is why Jesus Youth International helps the human and spiritual growth of young people and make them evangelisers so they carry to others the news and joy of Christ”, said Manoj Sunnny, a JYI leader who added that the movement started in India but has spread to other countries in Asia, America and Europe, and today it has 30,000 members.
It is a network of small groups which come together now and again for meetings. JYI, started in Kerala in the 1970s, is first of all Christ-centered and its aim is to reach out to young people in parishes, universities and help them encounter Jesus Christ. Jesus Youth International has five founding pillars: personal prayer, the Word of God, the Sacraments, following Christ and commitment for evangelisation, the latter being the main goal of the movement..
The leaders say: “JYI is chacterised by mission. At our meetings and seminars, programmes of formation we encourage the young members to dedicate their lives to mission, to the task of carrying God’s love to all peoples. In fact more and more young people decide to spend a year of their life in mission service a most edifying experience which has a deep impact. When we realise that God loves every human person it is the greatest gift we can share with those we encounter. JYI members evangelise in parishes and in univeristies, schools, in the streets, and in places where young people meet. Whereever they go they announce the Gospel with enthusiam and a smile”.
Thanks to this missionary spirit the movement spread in Asia and to Europe and America. In 2003 Jesus Youth International held a meeting in Rome. It was present at Asian Youth Day held in Bangalore, India also in 2003. This year JYI members will also be present at the 20th World Youth Day 11-221 August in Cologne, Germany to share and celebrate faith in Jesus Christ with Pope Benedict XVI and hundreds of thousands of young Christians from all over the world. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2005 righe 35 parole 359)
