| Ministry |
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| Introducing the Youth ministry of our Province |
| The youth ministry of our Chennai Province functions in five different sectors, each animated by a coordinator at the provincial level. |
| They are: |
| Groups and Movements |
| Educating Community |
| Academic Coordination |
| Catechetical Coordination |
| Youth at Risk |
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| Groups and Movements - MMYM |
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| We the Salesian sisters are convinced that Groups and Movements are of a vital means of formation of the young people to Spirituality. In the groups, the young feel a greater sense of belonging; feel free to express their abilities and talents and to develop them. Thus they are empowered to achieve easily greater and nobler things. |
| In the year 2003, the effort made to unify all the groups and movements of our Province led to the formation of MMYM - Mary Mazzarello Youth Movement. As privileged members of this great movement you need to know about your movement and live in depth its Spirituality. |
| Here are the guidelines about MMYM |
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| 1. What is the physiognomy of MMYM ? |
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| The Mary Mazzarello Youth Movement consists of |
Committed groups that aim at forming the youth to love God more and to serve Him. They are God-oriented.
These groups are: Bell, Word of God, Teller, Missionary, Marian, Peace, Holy Childhood, Don Bosco, St.Mary Mazzarello, Laura, Good Samaritan, Prayer, Liturgy, Ecclesial, Our Lord’s group and SalesianYouth Cooperators. |
| Other groups which aim at human and Christian formation of the young, strengthening in them the team spirit to achieve a common goal are: Joy, Charity, Happy, Media, Angels of Peace, Little Angels, Rose of Lima, Mother Teresa, Sr. Eusebia, Little Flower, Salesian, Lilly, Lotus, Rose, Sun Flower, Heralds, Altar girls group, Women cell, Human Rights group and Parish youth groups. |
| National Movements which have the vision to transform the society. The existing groups in our Province are: Junior Red Cross (JRC), Road Safety Patrols (RSP), Youth Students Movement (YSM), National Social Service (NSS), Rangers, Bul Buls-Guides-Scouts and AICUF. |
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| 2. What are the objectives of MMYM? |
| General Objective |
| To facilitate, through groups and movements, the formation of God loving persons and honest citizens. |
| Specific Objectives |
| To cultivate the sense of the divine by encountering God and Christ Jesus in day to day events and thus grow in relationship with Him |
| To enable the young to discover their prophetic role in transformation of self and society through solidarity with the poorest and by establishing the gospel values of justice, peace, freedom and love |
| To help the young to encounter the risen Christ through the celebration of the Sacraments |
| To help them to love life passionately with a joyous and youthful optimism |
| To develop a genuine and universal love for all as taught by Christ Jesus, which transcends barriers of caste, creed, language, colour and gender |
| To create an atmosphere of cheerfulness through the celebration of festivals and feast days |
| To engage them in community participation and community building through experience and group work |
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| 3. What is the Spirituality of MMYM? |
| The MMYM follows the Salesian Youth Spirituality (SYS). The triple word ‘Salesian Youth Spirituality’ refers to the way of being of the young people in the Salesian style lived by Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello. It is the spirituality of joy, founded on the sanctity in little things of every day life. Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello gifted their lives for the youth of their time. From their formative interventions with the young people, we have inherited the rich Salesian charism expressed in the method of Preventive System with its elements Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. |
| The Salesian Youth Spirituality can be synthesized in three elements |
| Joy |
| Study/Work/Duty |
| Piety |
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| 4. What means of formation are given in MMYM ? |
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| The youth of yesterday and today search for happiness and meaning in life. Formation to the youth of the movement is given both at the Provincial and the local level. |
| At the Provincial level |
| Common objectives and programmes proposed for youth Ministry |
| Leadership training |
| Media Education |
| Lectio Divina experience |
| At the local level |
| Weekly formative group meetings |
| Socio-political awareness |
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| Prayers and Eucharistic Celebrations |
| Monthly recollections and Annual retreats/ Day with God |
| Reading the lives of saints and great persons |
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| 5. What are the activities of MMYM ? |
| Liturgical Animation |
| Peer group Ministry |
| Neighbourhood Ministry through family visits and coaching classes |
| Child Labour prevention |
| Youth convention once in two years and youth fest every year |
| Speaking out against injustice, violence and corruption |
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| Conclusion |
| In this highly technological modern world and living under the influence of globalization and consumerism, Salesian Youth Spirituality is always on the move, challenging and changing youth from various backgrounds. Let us then join hands with the young people of today and with all those who are committed to their good “so that they may have life – life to the full”. May we learn the art of accompanying the young at the school of Mary, mother and guide of every educator and the young. |
| May the MMYM serve as a vital mean of formation for joyous and significant experiences of living and working together in groups, in accordance with the Salesian style. Let us proceed ahead with passion for God and compassion for people in order to change the world, there by making today’s human community more just, peaceful and thus more God like. |
| Youth Pastoral Plan 2007 - 2008 |
| Objective |
| In partnership with the laity, we commit ourselves to educate the young to experience God’s presence in person, in nature, and in daily realities to love life and to promote peace. |
| Action Plans |
| Education and Culture |
| To promote the ongoing formation of the laity through leadership training |
| Updating training programme to teachers especially English medium Nursery and Primary teachers. |
| Counselling services to young people |
| Life appreciation day to celebrate life |
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| Groups and Movements |
| Weekly formative youth group meetings |
| Youth day celebration with due spiritual preparation |
| Encouraging neighborhood ministry |
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| Catechetics |
| Creative catechesis – child, youth and adult catechesis |
| Promote partnership with the people of other faiths, share their values and celebrate the cultural festivals |
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| Educating Community |
| Study the GEM along with the core group members and teachers |
| Formation of the animating core groups in all the houses |
| Zonal level Educating Community Meets. |
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| Youth at Risk |
| Service to Sri-Lankan Refugees and HIV/AIDS patients |
| Girl Child day to be animated as life appreciation day and to organize the rally for this cause |
| Project on Planning and Management - Four days seminar (National level) |
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| Counselling Services to Young People |
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 With the aim of promoting mental health of today’s young people and women and to channelize their resources towards constructive and greater purposes, we, the Salesian Sisters of Chennai Province, have initiated the Counselling services.
It is done in two levels :
Periodical Animation in Schools and Personal Counselling: Sr.Tamizharasi Kanickaraj goes to 3 Schools in Chennai every week to give animation programme on Psychological aspects of life and counsel the needy students. Sr.Celine Arockiasamy does personal counselling to the Training girls at Mazzarello Convent, Tirupattur.
“Training Programme On Counselling Services To Young People”: This is to train the lay teachers who work in formal and non formal sectors to be para counsellors and to act as referrals to the Professional Counsellor. |
| It has been actualized already last year and 40 teachers and sisters have undergone this training, and are counselling the youth in their work places. |
| This year, the facility is offered to young sisters and laity who work in the non formal sector. This would comprise Marialaya, Professional Training centres, SHGs, VIDES and Cooperators |
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