April 5, 2009
Dear Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Galante,
We, the young Catholic Church of the Diocese of Camden, during this year of St. Paul, have come together to formulate this document to discuss our views and opinions concerning church matters. After hearing speakers discussing the life and teachings of St. Paul, in the categories of identity, evangelization, and unity, we have come together to form ideas of changes that will benefit the Church throughout the diocese. We pray that you will take our suggestions into consideration.
Just as St. Paul found his identity through his encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, we too, are called as Christians to discover and maintain our identity through Jesus. We feel that in order for the youth of the Church to develop a sense of identity, religious education should focus not only on the history of our faith, but also on the teachings of the Church today. From this preparation, we are better enabling our youth to grow into adults who are grounded in their faith by basing their identity on Christ. In addition, encouragement at self-discovery should be a vital part of our education; to not fear losing ourselves in the process of discernment, but allowing ourselves to be found by Jesus. Once this identity is developed we, as teenagers, can share our discoveries with our communities, thereby helping those around us progress in their own faith journeys.
Only once we are able to have a strong Christian Identity, are we able to bring that message to the larger communities and echo St. Paul’s life of evangelization, in words and actions. We, the Church of today, the forthcoming leaders in our individual parishes, as well as Diocese as a whole, are willing to take on the responsibility of spreading the message of Christ to those we encounter in our daily lives. It needs to be recognized that evangelization is, in fact, part of our identities as Roman Catholics; not limited to those who are ordained, but to all the baptized. Just as we all have the common responsibility to evangelize, so do we have the responsibility to remain united as one Body of Christ.
Being united does not mean simply congregating every Sunday morning; it means that we are all Catholics, inseparable by walls and parish boundaries – One Body, One Church. In spite of our parishes merging, closing, or changing, the thing that remains the same is our universal call to Jesus’ message. The youth can start by setting an example to parishioners in each parish; that the true parish experience should be centered around community, unification, and the true message of the Eucharist, rather than the location or church.
This weekend has a representation of what can happen when boundaries are ignored and the next generation of leaders comes together to share our experiences, ideas and Faith. It is our hope that you will support us in our endeavors to improve this community of the Diocese of Camden. For all of the support that you have given us so far, we thank you.
Sincerely,
The Youth Leadership Congress, 2009