A Church capable of “putting itself in the shoes” of the young, listening to their difficulties and offering them credible models: that’s the challenge of the youth apostolate in Romania, formulated on the basis of a process of self-criticism inside the Church. The negative experiences and criticisms of the new generations point out those responsible for youth apostolate – do not refer to the faith as such but to the way in which it is lived by the Church herself. Our young people complain that models are lacking. To provide such models there’s a need for a better preparation and selection in the seminaries, so that the young may find themselves in the presence of priests capable of inspiring them with trust”. Moreover, “what still prevents a good approach to the Gospel is disunity, rivalry and a non-ecumenical spirit within the Church, an attitude that is also the consequence of the past regime”. To pass from self-criticism to action, it is recommended to those who work in contact with the young “not to pose as moralists but to present to the young the Jesus of the Gospels in all his positive light: respect for the moral law will then automatically follow”. Young Romanians show in fact a great willingness to be evangelized and to collaborate, “but only in proportion as we are able to give them answers”: “in this moment the best way of evangelizing is to enable them to participate in the work of evangelization themselves”. Among the suggestions: paying greater attention to the formation of young couples, proposing valid alternatives to discotheques, for example volunteer service on behalf of the poor, and using the language of music “to bring the Gospel also to those who could listen to it only through this channel”.
