The personal “offer”, the experience of the diaconate, the taking seriously its demands, and the willingness to embark on a journey that is truly shared”: these are the elements indispensable for the inculturation of the Gospel in the youth world in Germany today. The four basic questions that young people pose to themselves: “Is my life rewarding? Do I have good relationships? Where is my life leading? What meaning does it all have? does God exist?”, translated into the language of the faith, mean that, in their meeting with the Gospel, they “must be made newly conscious of their dignity, enabled to participate in the love that surrounds them, reinforced in their capacity to hope and helped to reaffirm their capacity to encounter God in every situation and sphere of life”. For this to take place, point out those responsible for the youth apostolate, there exists “a series of options that have produced good results as ways of evangelization.” It is possible to overcome the individualism that modern society instils into youth through the active participation in the ecclesial movements and in events “of the mobile society of the young” such as World Youth Days or the meetings of Taizé , which help to amplify and complement the work of the local parish. Also important is the task of religious instruction in schools, in which teachers seek to “link the fundamental themes of the Christian faith with the themes of youth, in such a way that teenagers may see in a clear way the importance of the faith for the practical conduct of their life”. To respond to young people’s demand for spirituality and prayer, “there’s a need for a place of liturgical celebration shaped by youth culture; where this is provided, individual youngsters are happy and open to a deeper link with the faith and with the Church”. Young people perceive whether the Church addresses itself to them to build the future. The Church’s option for them in Germany is an option that transcends the local level and becomes a “service to the youth of society”. When this disinterested service succeeds, the credibility of the Church also grows, point out the leaders of the youth apostolate.
