NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CHAPLAINS’ FORUM
AT THE CHRISTIAN VILLAGE, KUMASI (GHANA)
ON MARCH 26, 2025
A TALK BY MOST REV. JOHN KOBINA LOUIS
AUXILIARY BISHOP OF ACCRA
TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING SYNODALITY IN YOUTH MINISTRY
OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Definition of Terms
- The Three Pillars of Synodality
- Communion and Youth Ministry
- Participation and Youth Ministry
- Mission and Youth Ministry
- Practical Approaches to Implementing Synodality in Youth Ministry
- Conclusion
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Synodality is a concept that emphasizes the communal and participatory nature of the Christian journey. It calls for a shared responsibility among all members of the Church, particularly concerning listening, dialogue, and mutual collaboration. Within youth ministry, the challenge and opportunity arise from the need to integrate the young people of the Church into this synodal process, nurturing their role in communion, participation, and mission. This approach helps to cultivate a more inclusive, vibrant, and mission-driven Church, where the youth are empowered to live out their faith and contribute meaningfully to the broader Church community.
2.0 DEFINITION OF TERMS
2.1 SYNODALITY
Synodality, from the Greek syn (“together”) and hodos (“way”), signifies “journeying together.” In reference to the Church, therefore, it means the People of God journeying together with Jesus who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).1 Hence, the International Theological Commission defines it as “the specific modus vivendi et operandi of the Church, the People of God, which reveals and gives substance to her being as communion when all her members journey together, gather in assembly, and take an active part in her evangelizing mission”2
It is a call for a more inclusive, participatory, collaborative and missionary Church.
2.2 YOUTH MINISTRY
Pope Francis highlights the importance of youth ministry by dedicating the entire chapter 7 of his Post-Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit, 25 March, 2019, to it. Youth ministry refers to the Church’s pastoral efforts to accompany young people—typically adolescents and young adults—in their spiritual, personal, and social development. It seeks to foster their relationship with Christ, integrate them into the Church community, and empower them for discipleship and mission.
3.0 THE THREE PILLARS OF SYNODALITY
Synodality, like a yeast in a dough, fosters or makes more fruitful the Church’s ministry as a whole and youth ministry in particular. Thus, anticipating the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis would declare that ‘Youth ministry has to be synodal; it should involve a “journeying together” that values “the charisms that the Spirit bestows in accordance with the vocation and role of each of the Church’s members… including young people”’3
Now, crucial to a synodal Church are three pillars which the narrative in Luke 24:13-35 illustrates so well.4 According to this text, later in the day of Jesus’ resurrection, two of His disciples were journeying to Emmaus, when suddenly He joined them. In respect of synodality, three things could be highlighted in this journey with the Lord. Firstly, the two disciples enjoyed fellowship or communion with the Lord, which was climaxed in the Breaking of Bread. Secondly, they participated by listening to and dialoguing with Jesus and inviting Him to stay with them. Thirdly, immediately they recognized the Lord when He broke the bread, they set out on mission to Jerusalem to proclaim that He was truly risen.
Hence, communion, participation and mission are the three main pillars of a synodal Church as envisioned by Pope Francis. Thus, the Vademecum of the 2024 Synod of Bishops rightly states: “These three dimensions are profoundly interrelated. They are the vital pillars of a synodal Church. There is no hierarchy between them. Rather, each one enriches and orients the other two.”5
These pillars of synodality are crucial in shaping how youth ministry should evolve in the contemporary Church.
4.0 COMMUNION AND YOUTH MINISTRY
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor. 13:13). The English word “communion” in this verse comes from the Greek original term, koinonia, which translates into Latin as communio. The Church has its origin in God’s grace and it is patterned after the communion of the three divine Persons. Thus, the Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality states: “By His gracious will, God gathers us together as diverse peoples of one faith, through the covenant that [H]e offers to His people. The communion we share finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Trinity. It is Christ who reconciles us to the Father and unites us with each other in the Holy Spirit”.6 Sacramentally, we are incorporated into this communion through Baptism and sustained in it through the Holy Eucharist.
In youth ministry, communion means creating a sense of belonging where young people feel valued and connected. This involves bridging generational gaps and ensuring youth are not isolated but integrated into the broader community through shared prayer, dialogue, and mutual support.
5.0 PARTICIPATION AND YOUTH MINISTRY
An important implication for our communion with the triune God and with one another as His people is the call to actively participate in the life and mission of the Church (cf. Acts 2:42-47). Participation is, therefore, “based on the fact that all the faithful are qualified and are called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the Holy Spirit. In a synodal Church the whole community, in the free and rich diversity of its members, is called together to pray, listen, analyze, dialogue, discern and offer advice on making pastoral decisions which correspond as closely as possible to God’s will […].7 Genuine efforts must be made to ensure the inclusion of those at the margins or who feel excluded”.8
Therefore, more conscious efforts must be made to ensure the inclusion of the youth in the life of the Church. The participation of the youth in the Church entails far more than simply attending events. It means their active involvement in the life of the Church, especially, in youth ministry. Pope Francis thus underscores this: “young people themselves are agents of youth ministry”.9
6.0 MISSION AND YOUTH MINISTRY
After His resurrection, our Lord Jesus made it clear to His disciples that their mission (cf. Matt. 28:18-20) originated from His own mission (cf. John 20:21) and that of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8; John 20:22-23). Hence, Vatican II stresses that “the Church is missionary by her very nature, since it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father.”10
Synodality should reawaken in us the missionary nature of the Church and make us more committed to it. Happily, youth ministry is likewise missionary. Thus, Pope Francis affirms: “If we can hear what the Spirit is saying to us, we have to realise that youth ministry is always missionary.”11
Hence, in Christus Vivit, Pope Francis exhorts the youth that “filled with the love of Christ, [they] are called to be witnesses of the Gospel wherever they find themselves, by the way, they live.”12 Youth ministry, in this context, should aim at preparing young people to receive the Gospel and share it with others. The mission aspect of youth ministry helps youth develop a deeper understanding of their call to evangelise, emphasising that the Church’s mission is an ongoing process that requires every member’s active involvement.
7.0 PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO IMPLEMENTING SYNODALITY IN YOUTH MINISTRY
“The young make us see the need for new styles and new strategies.”13 “In the Synod, many concrete proposals emerged for renewing youth ministry and freeing it from approaches that are no longer effective because they are incapable of entering into dialogue with contemporary youth culture.”14
To implement synodality in Youth Ministry, practical strategies can be employed:
7.1 CREATING SPACES FOR DIALOGUE
Organising regular spaces for youth to speak openly about their experiences, challenges, struggles, and aspirations within the Church, listening attentively to their concerns, and engaging them in meaningful conversations about faith, life and the mission of the Church. This can take the form of youth forums, retreats, or group discussions where all voices, especially those of marginalised young people, are heard. A synodal approach requires active listening and mutual respect.
7.2 FORMATION AND EDUCATION
“Any educational project or path of growth for young people must certainly include formation in Christian doctrine and morality. It is likewise important that it [has] two main goals. One is the development of the kerygma, the foundational experience of encounter with God through Christ’s death and resurrection. The other is growth in fraternal love, community life and service.”15. This helps young people grow in their faith and navigate the challenges of life with a Christian perspective.
Furthermore, young people should be given adult mentors to foster communion. This aligns with Christus Vivit’s call for “intergenerational relationship”16, allowing youth to learn from experienced members while offering fresh perspectives in return.
In addition, Pope Francis highlights Catholic schools and universities as privileged places for evangelization and personal development of young people.17 He encourages these institutions to go beyond mere academic instruction and provide young people with opportunities for their spiritual and personal development, “These include a fresh experience of the kerygma, wide-ranging dialogue, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches, the promotion of a culture of encounter, the urgency of creating networks and an option in favour of those who are least, those whom society discards. Similarly important is the ability to integrate the knowledge of head, heart and hands.”18
7.3 EMPOWERING YOUTH LEADERSHIP
One key way to implement synodality is by actively involving the youth in leadership. This can be achieved through youth councils, ministry teams, or participation in parish decision-making processes. Encourage participation and give young people real leadership roles such as organizing and coordinating events, leading prayer activities, and even taking part in pastoral planning.
This reflects the participatory ethos of synodality. When they lead a Bible study or plan an event, they’re not just participating—they are shaping the Church.
7.4 INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMES
Chaplains should create programmes that are inclusive of all young people, taking into greater consideration those practices that have shown their value – the methods, language and aims that have proved truly effective in bringing young people to Christ and the Church. It does not matter where they come from or what labels they receive. What is important is that we make use of everything that has borne good fruit and effectively communicates the joy of the Gospel19. These programmes can include retreats, service trips, and parish outreach initiatives.
8.0 CONCLUSION
Synodality provides a powerful framework for engaging youth in the life and mission of the Church. By emphasizing communion, participation, and mission, synodality will help young people feel valued and empowered in their faith journey. Youth Ministry, when guided by the principles of synodality, can foster a more inclusive and dynamic Church, where young people are seen not just as the future but as active participants in the present mission of the Church.
Practical approaches like creating spaces for dialogue, forming leaders, and inclusive collaboration can make synodality a lived reality in the lives of young Catholics. Finally, may all youth chaplains, and indeed all priests and bishops, synodally create the conducive pastoral atmosphere for the youth to flourish in the Church and beyond!
Thank you.
1 International Theological Commission, Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church, 2 March, 2018, nos. 3-4.
2 Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church,no. 6.
3 Pope Francis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Christus Vivit, 25th Marchh, 2019, no. 206.
4 Francis, Address for the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary for the institution of the Synod of Bishops, 17 October 2015.
5 General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission: Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality (Vatican City: General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, 2021), no. 1.4; henceforth this document is abbreviated as Vd.
6 Vd. 1.4.
7 Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church, nos. 67-68.
8 Vd. 1.4.
9 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 203.
10 Vatican II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, Ad Gentes, 7 December 1965, no. 2.
11 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 240.
12 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 175.
13 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 204.
14 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 208.
15 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 213.
16 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 191.
17 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 221.
18 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 222.
19 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 205.
