Synod has a new message for
young people
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| Vincent Paul Nneji, a young auditor at the Synod of Bishops for Young People. |
29-year-old Vincent Paul Nneji, a young auditor representing
the Catholic Youth Organization in Nigeria, speaks frankly about a new message
he is hearing and what the young people of Nigeria have to offer the Church.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Being a young auditor is Vincent Paul Nneji’s
second contribution to the Synod of Bishops. He made his first
contribution when he came to Rome in March and participated in the Pre-Synod
meeting. Vincent spoke with Devin Watkins about a new message he is hearing and
shares what he and other young Nigerians can offer the Church.
Surprise message
Vincent says he’s hearing a new message which he calls “the
act of listening”. It’s unheard of for young people to speak out and be heard
in Nigeria, he said, because “the older ones don’t tell lies and they are never
wrong.”
“So the fact that Bishops can acknowledge that they are
wrong and that they have made mistakes and they are ready to listen to us is
one big message for us in Nigeria. It means that it’s possible to air our
views. This is a very big surprise.”
Nigeria needs leaders
Because of poor political and social leadership in Nigeria,
Vincent says that young people look to the Church to fill the void.
“It’s a cry that has lingered for so long, from
generation to generation, and we are tired of expecting things from the regular
world and our leaders in Nigeria. So we look to the Church to step in and at
least try to provide some of the basic things that we need like education and
security.”
What young people have to offer the Church
Vincent says that he and many other young people bring a
readiness to collaborate and a strong faith to the Church. He says that many of
his peers have been killed in terrorist attacks. “We watched them die and
cannot do anything about it”, he said.
“I am bringing the passion, the emotion, the cries of the
less privileged, those who are poverty-stricken. And I’m bringing the hopes of
those who still believe in the Church and wish to have a better society.”
Thoughts on the Synod document
Vincent says that young people are eager to find out what
will come out of the Synod of Bishops on Young People. And he continued,
“But you know we are tired of reading documents 100 or
200 pages long. We young people want to see some practical things, steps, and
probably if they can be published in a very attractive way for young people to
use to and want to read or listen to.”
Challenge to young people
Vincent ended saying he has a challenge for his peers around
the world.
“Try to visit our place it’s quite nice to live in and
its full of traditions and colorful cultures that they can learn from and
probably take to their place. We are hospitable in Nigeria in as much as we
have challenges here and there, but we are very accommodating, very loving, and
we watch each others’ backs.”
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