An interview with Cora Mateo, Asia Youth Day pioneer

BANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- Young Catholics in Asia is not leaving the Church, but the Church is keeping distant from them, says the former executive secretary of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) Office of Laity.

Cora Mateo from the Philippines was very involved in the beginnings of Asian Youth Day (AYD), a biennial gathering of Catholic youth from Asian countries. UCA News interviewed her in Bangalore,India, 2,060 kilometers south of New Delhi, during the third AYD celebration, held Aug. 9-15. The first two were held in 1999 in Thailand and in 2001 in Taiwan.

Ms Mateo, now a consultant to the Youth Desk and in charge of AsIPA (Asian Integral Pastoral Approach) Desk that takes care of promoting the vision of a participatory Church, both desks being under the Office of Laity, spoke about her long experience working with young people and about her vision for young Asians and the Church.

She has been a lay missionary in Taiwan since 1964 and is a member of the lay Teresian Association (www.institucionteresiana.org) and currently serves on its general council in Rome.

The interview follows:

UCA NEWS: Are young people leaving the Church?

CORA MATEO: It is not the youth who are going away from the Church, but the Church is going away from the youth. The Church is slow to understand their tastes and ambitions, dreams and visions, and their ways and means. It has always maintained a safe distance from youth and never trusted them fully. In fact, the youth are trying to come closer to Church, but their closeness is suspiciously watched by the ‘fathers and mothers of the Church’ as too radical and difficult.

How could the Church attract young people?

Unless and until the Church becomes ‘young’ in mind and spirit, it may not attract the youth. I am sad to say that a large number of Church leaders do not have trust in young people. Forget about Church people not attracting the youth -- sadly, many prefer to keep them at a distance if they do not follow the prescribed ways. No wonder they become anti-social, anti-Church or anti-Christian.

We have not utilized the youth resources for good. We have not channeled their energy and enthusiasm for the kingdom of God. We have not involved them in our Church affairs and evangelization. In short, we have not accepted them as ‘very important persons in Church.’ That's why there is a distance.

What do you propose to attract young people?

To keep the youth with us, first of all we have to accept them as they are. We have to get into their shoes and understand them. They come to us with all their likes and dislikes. They may not prefer to sit for long sermons and rituals, but certainly they will listen to us if we speak their language. They may prefer the language of music, dance, drama, play and action.

The youth are basically searching for an identity and acceptance. They are looking for role models and examples to follow. If we are ready to give them what they want, we can hold them back and convert them as the greatest missionaries of modern times. The Church has to assign them new roles and responsibilities and make them enjoy the joy of Easter within the Church.

To my mind, the youth are the very core of the Church -- without them there is no Church. 

What has been your personal experience with young people?

It is the youth who have changed me and given me a meaning in life. They have challenged me, but never let me down. They have questioned me, but never written me off for not answering them. I just walk with them and I think they like being with me. I am 61 years old, and some of them have come to say: ‘you inspire me.’

What motivated you to be involved in lay and youth ministry?

My attraction to the youth and my vocation to the lay apostolate are closely related. I belong to a secular lay association called Teresian Association, founded by Saint Pedro Poveda Castroverde, a great youth apostle. (Editor’s note: The Spanish priest and martyr, executed by Republican forces in 1936 at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1993 and canonized on May 4, 2003.)

I became a member of this association in 1963 (at the age of 21) and took up youth ministry as my mission in the Church. The Teresian Association taught me to trust in youth and gave me the courage and strength to walk with them. I started my work with the youth through campus ministry, promoting Catholic students' associations.

How did the Asian Youth Day get started?

The youth themselves are the founders of AYD. We have just walked with them and assisted them with the necessary information and support. I happened to be the executive secretary of FABC Office of Laity, which the Youth Desk comes under, during the formation stages of AYD. So I was given charge in coordinating the efforts and motivating the youth in the realization of AYD. Much of the work was done by Mr Jun Hashimoto from Japan, who has been the Youth Desk Associate Secretary since 1995 when the initial planning started. This is his last AYD and from now on Ms Joy Candelario from Las Piñas, is the new Associate Secretary for the Youth Desk. She too has been very involved since 1997, with the other youth chaplains from India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines,Korea and other countries. We also received much support from the Salesians since the first one inThailand. This time, delegates for AYD III are from 19 Asian countries.

The idea for such a gathering came up during an FABC OL organized conference of youth (BILA – Bishops’ Institute for Lay Apostolate – on Youth) in Tagaytay in January 1997. And the seed was laid in August that year during the World Youth Day in Paris. (Pope John Paul II, who addressed the youth inParis, declared youth ministry as one of the most prioritized ministries in the Church). The Asian youth got an opportunity to be together one afternoon during WYD in Paris. It was the first AYG (Asian Youth Gathering) which led to the concretization of AYD.

Has youth ministry in Asia progressed since then?

The Church is slowly recognizing the youth presence. Most countries and dioceses now have a youth director and youth groups at parish, diocesan and national levels. The call by the Holy Father to integrate youth ministry with every apostolate made a significant impact on youth ministries in Asia. The youth are exposed to various realities during AYD and AYG and are made to develop an Asian vision of youth.

How do you evaluate the latest AYD gathering in India?

It was unique in many ways. First, there was better participation. The number of Pakistan delegates increased from two to 18. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh sent more than 20 delegates each. These nations had less than five delegates in past AYDs. Japan has also increased the number of their delegates from three to 18. Growing participation shows a positive trend.

India has organized the event in a unique way, which gave every participant a new experience. The organizers' arranging overseas participants to live with ‘a host family’ gave a new experience and exposure. The impact of that experience will last long.

Except for the long liturgical ceremonies in different Oriental rites, youth have enjoyed every bit of it. But even the liturgical services in Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites and the Indian Mass that incorporated cultural aspects of India were a new experience for the youth.

What is your vision for AYD?

If Asia is to decide the future of the Church, Asian youth must emerge as the heralds of the Good News. The youth have the potential to become effective peacemakers. More and more youth gatherings at local, regional, national and international levels can help the youth assert their identity as Catholic youth and be messengers of peace.

I see a good future for AYD as the Church has started realizing the potential of youth. The youth have also started getting more involved with Church life. If the Church learns to accept the youth, youth will feel co-responsible for the Church and make it more vibrant and energetic.

END

Salamat sa UCA News, www.ucanews.com

(Editor’s note: that is the form we have been asked to use.)