Young auditor at Synod: minister
to young people where they are
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| Yadira Vieyra and another young auditor at the Synod of Bishops on Young People. |
Yadira Vieyra, a young auditor participating in the Synod of
Bishops on Young People, speaks to Vatican News about the need she sees for the
Church to “recognize where our youth are” and minister to them there.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Yadira Vieyra, a 29-year-old researcher and assistant for
migrant families, who lives in Chicago in the US is participating in the Synod
of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment as an auditor.
She spoke with Devin Watkins about her experience in the Synod and the ideas
she brings with her to the Synod Fathers.
Exciting moment
Yadira said she is excited that she is able to participate
in conversations which will “influence what the Pope says to our youth in his
exhortation”. She is equally excited about “the way in which the Church will
now minister to them where they are in life right now”.
Recognize our humanity
When naming where youth are right now, Yadira said that many
seek to have their humanity recognized through political activism. Therefore,
she said, it’s just as important for the Church to hear this need and minister
to young people so that they feel the Church recognizes their humanity as well.
Reach youth where they are
Yadira thinks that “a good portion” of the Bishops are
listening. She characterized others as “still focused on preaching the truth to
our youth”. While she agrees, she also reiterated that the message needs to
reach youth where they are.
The family has changed
This reality begins by recognizing that the families in
which young people grow up have changed a lot, Yadira said.
In the US not everyone is raised by a mother and a
father, or in a heterosexual couple. And so, that’s important for us to be
mindful of, because that’s where our youth are. And it’s important to honor
their experiences and again minister to what life is like for them now and find
a way to make them understand that they are so deeply loved by God and that He
is just so excited to embrace them. They just need to be open to that. And the
only way to be open to that is for the Church to meet them where they are.
Gospel of inclusion and love
Yadira said young people need to hear the Gospel preached as
“inclusion and love”. Her reminder to the Bishops in the small group meetings
is that youth are not the same all over the world.
I have made it a point to bring them back to the reality
that not all of our youth are the same and their lives are not the same not
just in the US but in other parts of the world. It’s important for them to be
mindful of that. That while life may look alike in some parts of the world,
it’s not the same in other parts of the world. And it’s important for us to
again to be mindful, be open to what life is really like for our youth right
now and find a way to meet them whether it’s through social media, through more
innovative, fun, happy catechesis.
Hearing other youth
The youth festival was an enjoyable experience for Yadira
who enjoyed listening to the stories, some of which were very painful. “I loved
how they ended with the feeling of God’s love in their lives. I mean, coming to
God and experiencing God’s love isn’t a direct path. Everyone experiences it
differently, and also at different stages in their life,” Yadira said. Yadira
was impressed that the experience of community was the common thread weaving
itself through the stories she heard.
Loved, not judged
There is one aspect where Yadira voiced the need for the Church
to change its approach.
The Church has a lot of work to do making sure that our
youth feel loved and not just judged, or discarded, or abused. It’s important
for us to make sure that we communicate in a way that is loving. Yes, it’s
important to community the truth. But also you can’t just communicate the truth
without treating someone with love and care and attentiveness.
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