CARMELITE YOUTH MINISTRY, presentation-1.pptx

A manual for Carmelite youth ministry in Nigeria; seeking to discern pathways where others see only walls and potentials where others see peril through discernable desire for goodness...

1. PROPOSED CARMELITE YOUTH MINISTRY VICARIATE OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, NIGERIA-GHANA Shared Prayer, Friendship And Discipleship

2. Proposed name Order of Discalced Carmelite Youth - OCDY

3. Proposed Slogan: CARMELITE YOUTH! IN GOD’S PRESENCE WE HUMBLY STAND

4. SHARED PRAYER OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE SHARED FRIENDSHIP SHARED DISCIPLESHIP Charism/pillars of ocdy

5. preamble “Young People are Bundles of Possibilities” is the crust of Pope Francis’ Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Young People Christus Vivit . He establishes the place of Young People in the heart of the Church’s mission to the world and the unique mission they bear as young Christians.

6. For this reason, the Carmelites in Nigeria desires to offer a unique pastoral guide to young people. This Youth intervention is a fruit of the 2023 Chapter deliberation, held in Nsukka. Friars Clement Obiorah, OCD, and Philip Kusimo , OCD were charged with drafting the modalities in view of initiating a formal youth ministry.

7. A YOUTH VOCATION IN NIGERIA Although the living conditions of young people in Nigeria are pathetic. These conditions range from abuse to exploitation of the young in family, in the world, and in the Church . This becomes the context for every mission, namely, looking closely at the living conditions in the light of God’s faithful intervention through agents truly transformed from the heart.

8. Thus, We seek to discern pathways where others only see walls, To recognize potentials where others see only peril. And to expand their capacity to live beyond the immediate condition they now are.

9. Our vision To live at the service of God and humanity modeled after Jesus Christ our brother and Mary our Mother through prayer and solitude.

10. Our mission To create a vibrant youth community sustained by a life of prayerful witness to the gospel values of friendship and discipleship in our secular world.

11. OUR PLEDGE To share in the history, tradition, and spiritual patrimony of the Discalced Carmelite Order. Look to the future full of hope and happiness as we discern where the Holy Spirit is most alive and active in the attainment of the best version of ourselves.

12. OBJECTIVES Sharing in the Carmelite values, charism, and apostolate as young Catholics. To foster youth vocation in the Church. Seeking Effective strategy to infuse society with gospel values To encourage personal sanctity in a lived relationship with God, people, and society To articulate their Catholic Faith through conscious learning. To actively participate in community building by fostering healthy relationships. To promote the Carmelite literature in a literary community (intellectual value) etc.

13. Target audience The youths in our Carmelite communities, chaplaincies, school environments, and children of OCDS members are our targets. In addition, our school communities shall establish a Carmelite fan club just like the Bible clubs…

14. MEMBERSHIP Who can Join the OCDY? Carmelite Youth is open to all young Catholics who are between 15 – 25 years with the following requirements: A Christian with a genuine desire for God Aspirants must belong to not more than one pious society in the Church. Desire to learn and live the Carmelite lifestyle of Prayer and meditation, shared in communion. A period of discernment and accompaniment NB: For candidates between 15 -17 years, there is a need for parents or guardians to sign some supervision form.

15. organogram Where does the OCDY fit in the Carmelite family?

16. ACTIVITIES The activities for OCDY are as follows: Weekly Seminars. Periodic Workshops/conferences Officers’ Chapters Annual tour or outings – “ the pilgrim’s way to Carmel” NB : the place of Media; arts and crafts; interviews; desert experiences; youth conferences; Carmelites at work (profession); vocation drives; and Carmelite pilgrimages/tours /Camps will be fixed in due course.

17. FORMATION PERIODS A flexible formation program spanning years. Investiture and formal reception with the Carmelite pendant happen after 3 months during which the promise is taken. The 3 years programs include ; Discipleship year/Formation (prayer, virtue, and discipleship), Apostolic year, and Desert year/discernment year (not fixed). NB: In the case of the school period, the online community forum takes precedence…For security reasons, a zonal conference will be held.

18. Proposed Topics/Content for the Formation Year The following are some ideas and topics that may be spread out during the formation period The basics of Christian call; OCDY as a way of following Christ What is a Youth Vocation? Carmelite History and the Carmelite Family Carmelite core values in response to the Gospel values How to discern the will of God for us Learning to heal our inadequacies tremors unwanted experiences and recreating the moments so the power of the Holy Spirit How to benefit from the wisdom of the Carmelite saints How to choose a Carmelite saint for a guide Youth in the church, the church's mission How to choose a life profession at the service of God and humanity? What is prayer? What is a prayer to me? How can my life be a prayer? Prayer after the Carmelite character Safeguarding - my vocation is love. An abridged version…

19. Alumni Interventions Resource personnel Reconciliation of a larger Carmelite body Reorganizing the ex-Carmelites.

20. RECOMMENDATIONS We acknowledge them to be members of the Carmelite Family in our Vicariate and we encourage all our communities to support this movement especially our houses of formation and those dedicated to working with youth. As it is still a new initiative, we enjoined that support in terms of fund be given to any friar managing the youth at both community and national level. We plead that the members of the Carmelite Family, especially the friars, welcome them as collaborators in their ministries to their young folks. At the community level, let it our responsibility to assist them attend all our Vicariate celebrations.

21. THANK YOU for listening!