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Our Lady of Guadalupe,
THE
MOTHER OF ALL MANKIND,
leads us to her CHILDREN!

It is the young people of the world which gives
HOPE TO THE FUTURE!

Our Holy Father points out that it is their experience
with the encounter with the
Living Jesus Christ that gives hope to a greater
communion and solidarity
for the
CHURCH and all of SOCIETY!

It is for this reason that the Synod Fathers remind us that their
spiritual formation
MUST BE
CONSTANT AND ACTIVE!

That youth ministry MUST BE one of the first concerns of our pastors and communities.

Pope John Paul II states that many youths, in their search for the true meaning of life are "...thirsting for God but quite often they lack the conditions needed to take advantage of their abilities and realize their aspirations."

Many of our young people today feel frustrated because they may find it difficult to find employment or prospects for the future appear discouraging.

These feelings may lead our young people to withdrawal and depression, or actually acting out with violence
to others or even themselves!

Many times these feelings lead to their abandoning their search for God,
thinking He does not really exist!

That is why our Holy Father stresses the importance of the
CHURCH IN AMERICA
being "committed to maintaining her pastoral and missionary commitment to young people so that they will encounter the LIVING JESUS CHRIST!"

"Let the children come unto Me., and do not hinder them;
for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew Chapter 19, verse 4)

The Synod Fathers acknowledge that throughout many parishes
there are "programs for Christian families, catechesis, Catholic educational institutions and community life in parishes,

BUT

there are many others,
especially among those affected by various kinds of poverty
who remain outside the range of the Church's activity"

That is why it is definitely important
that
"Young Christians, trained to have a mature missionary consciousness, MUST BECOME APOSTLES TO THEIR CONTEMPORARIES."

The Synod Fathers believe "There is need for pastoral outreach to young people wherever they are found: in schools, universities, the workplace, the countryside, with appropriate adaptation to their particular inclinations" or personal likings.

At the diocesan level, pastoral outreach should be encouraged.
In this outreach peers or people so trained, would seek out the youth and engage them in discussions

making sure that programs already established between various local dioceses, and internationally, are being utilized.

In response to this lack of maturity,
our young people need to be invited to have courage and they need to be trained to appreciate the value of life-long commitments such as the

priesthood,

consecrated life

Be assured that the youth in America are
Our Blessed Mother's
"precious" flowers!