During the 13th IMBISA plenary assembly held in Namibia, Bishops and youth delegates from the region reflected together on
"Reimagining the Church’s Engagement with young people in the IMBISA region
in the light of Pope Francis’ Exhortation, Christus Vivit"
Below is their final address to the bishops
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Dear bishops the youth of the IMBISA countries want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to join your plenary assembly and the floor to speak because one of the things that we the youth desire is to be listened to and to be heard. When we reflect on words to share, we have drawn from sacred scripture, Christus Vivit and our current realities especially the youth and people of God from the countries of IMBISA.
Christus Vivit a beautiful exhortation for the Young people and the entire people of God was released in 2019 and for the Bishops in 2022 Making it a focal point of the IMBISA Plenary Assembly allows us to see that we are part of the Church that reflects on the young and allowing us the Young to be part of IMBISA Plenary Assembly indicates that the Church has understood that to appropriately reflect on the Young we need to do so with the young. Nothing is for us without us.
In the midst of all our problems in our world and in our church that cause anxiety and alienation among many young people. We have hope that you invite us young people to take our place as the “now of the Church” and also to voice our opinions.
This action is a positive step, the truth is not everything can be accomplished in one seating however this has allowed us to have a vision and understand the direction home. Bishops, Priests and the religious at large we look at you to be shepherded; it’s a relationship of reciprocity “my sheep hears my voice, I know them and they follow me” John 10:27.
To know requires paying attention to the signs of our times, the experiences, longings, joys and sorrows of the Young and the Church at large. It is in the intense keen gaze of the shepherded who watches with keen understanding, discerning the differences of the flock and communicating in the language best understood.
Christus Vivit a beautiful exhortation for the Young people and the entire people of God was released in 2019 and for the Bishops in 2022 Making it a focal point of the IMBISA Plenary Assembly allows us to see that we are part of the Church that reflects on the young and allowing us the Young to be part of IMBISA Plenary Assembly indicates that the Church has understood that to appropriately reflect on the Young we need to do so with the young. Nothing is for us without us.
In the midst of all our problems in our world and in our church that cause anxiety and alienation among many young people. We have hope that you invite us young people to take our place as the “now of the Church” and also to voice our opinions.
This action is a positive step, the truth is not everything can be accomplished in one seating however this has allowed us to have a vision and understand the direction home. Bishops, Priests and the religious at large we look at you to be shepherded; it’s a relationship of reciprocity “my sheep hears my voice, I know them and they follow me” John 10:27.
To know requires paying attention to the signs of our times, the experiences, longings, joys and sorrows of the Young and the Church at large. It is in the intense keen gaze of the shepherded who watches with keen understanding, discerning the differences of the flock and communicating in the language best understood.
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