|
GS in Ireland was set up in 2006 by a number of parents, who believe that today more than ever, their teenage children need a companionship that is guided. Today young people are faced with a myriad of issues, circumstances and questions coming on a regular basis from society and the common mentality of the modern culture. The views and values today which influence our children and their peers are often powerfully conveyed through modern media such as the tabloids, magazines, TV soaps, internet blogs etc..., influences that the previous generation did not have to grapple with.
Most of the parents who have taken on this voluntary work are also participants in the Catholic Group CL which stands for Communion & Liberation and the educational ethos and meaning to life that they wish to pass on is according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. For this reason it is useful here to give an outline of what CL is.
CL
CL began in 1954 when Fr Luigi Giussani(1922-2005) realised that young people either were not aware or had many misconceptions of their Catholic faith. He could see also that their faith was often reduced to ritual with little or no connection to one’s outlook or way of life. So he took on the task of trying to teach and explain what he saw as the beauty of the Catholic faith and how it enriches and fulfils the life of the human being. It was at the beginning that Giussani called the Gioventù Studentesca (Student Youth) GS for short. Since then his way of explaining the faith, life, reality, has attracted both young and old, not only throughout the Catholic Church but also beyond. His books have been published in 19 languages including Arabic translations in 2006. CL is now present in over 70 countries around the world.
Practically speaking, CL in Ireland and all over the world consists of a weekly study group or catechesis called School of Community. There is no type of membership card, but only the free participation of persons. Many friendships are formed by the common desire to understand one’s life and faith in this way and the resulting communitarian dimension is greatly valued by participants. As CL does not take the form of a new organisation or structure but simply to live one’s Christian faith as defined by tradition and the Church, it is called by the Catholic Church an ecclesial movement.
CL was officially recognised by the Catholic Church in 1982 and at that time Pope John Paul II, in a meeting with CL, gave its adherents this mandate “Go into all the world to bring the truth, beauty, and peace that are encountered in Christ the Redeemer. This is the task that I leave with you today.” In 2004 Pope John Paul II wrote to Fr Giussani saying that CL "has chosen and chooses to indicate not a road, but the road . . . The road, as you have affirmed so many times, is Christ”
In March 2007 Pope Benedict said to over 100,000 CL participants in St Peters Square, that CL is a “witness to the beauty of being Christian in an age when the opinion was spreading that Christianity is a difficult and oppressive way to live.”
Irish CL Website: www.clIreland.com
So what happens in GS?
GS aims to be a place of friendship and education for teenagers. Approximately every two weeks usually on a Saturday we meet and do activities such as games, hikes, movie, cultural or educational visits. The activities which are always accompanied in a very simple way by at least two volunteer adults, finish with a meal together. During the meal there is usually a 5 to 10 min discussion about the day. The purpose of the discussion is to encourage the young people to think. Thinking about a days activity and what is good or bad about it and why it was good or bad helps the young people(and the adults) form a habit of judging life. It helps them begin the path of understanding why some things in life are more beautiful and especially when lived in a certain way. If one can recognise what is beautiful in life (for example a walk together) and that this beauty is a gift, one begins to look more for this beauty and recognise the link it has with the gift and meaning of life itself. Importantly also, it is through the simple companionship with the adults that the young people learn to judge the truth and the good for their own lives.
For those teenagers who have reached third year in secondary school there is a weekly study group guided by adults, lasting approximately half an hour and the young people are encouraged to compare what is studied with their experience. The study material is on Catholic teaching and is usually based on the teaching methods and material of Giussani. There is a desire for an honest and truthful engagement between students and adults about what is being discussed. This meeting may happen before or after the Saturday activity or if this is impractical it can be arranged for another day.
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement in GS is encouraged where at all possible. As the young people take on the path to Christian maturity, their parents can be a great and important support in this journey. To aid this, we offer all parents the reading material the children will work on and the hope is there will be opportunities for the discussion to continue on occasion in the home. Parents of course, are more than welcome to attend any of the adult School of Community study groups that take place around the city.
Parish Involvement
GS is very happy to be associated with Beechwood Avenue Parish. Fr Bernard Kennedy of the parish who has always welcomed and encouraged GS, continues to offer his friendship and availability especially in regard to offering sacraments such as confession to the young people when required. The parish have also offered the use of their hall for GS activities.
Adult Volunteers for GS
more information available from info@clireland.com
|
