Service Learning Program

Service Learning Program

Theological Reflection

Jesus the Christ

Ms. Rodriguez

Isabella Cabaleiro

A1

        At times it is said that our youth is dying out. They are making poor life choices and living selfishly and consequentially serving as a dim, hedonistic generation to come. Yet, I believe with the proper and understanding guidance, we can encourage the youth to become wholesome and moral individuals. As a Peer Leader in the Youth Group at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church, I along with the other Peer Leaders help prepare the youth of our parish for Confirmation. This mentoring would occur once a week on Sundays for an hour from seven to eight. We help guide the Confirmandi by discussing vital and pending topics in our Church and world in small group discussions. We also give talks about how we can improve ourselves and how we can each make a difference, and yet serve as a united body of young persons wishing to evangelize and make known the jewel which is our faith. Through this process of tapping into the young, vivacious, life-filled souls of our youth teeming with curiosity, we hoped to nurture and cultivate their spiritual life through social exchanges on different subjects, enhancing and bolding prayer life, and amplifying the depth contained in their personal relationship with God through greater knowledge of their faith.    

        Awareness to elements of our culture and social conceptions are key to molding the morale and consciousness of our youth. Each week a refreshed paradigm of a topic would be introduced such as music or gender roles. One of the older Peer Leaders would speak and give a personal testimony to one of these topics and how it has affected them in their life. If one of the Leaders spoke about music they would say how, through the passion of music, a truly magnetic attraction has been formed between them and God. The speaker would then ask questions about the relevance of the topic to be discussed in small groups. After being divided into these circles, the youth would share their point of view on the topics and how they can respectively relate to the topic. While speaking about these topics, I noticed how God wants us to inspire others through the exemplification of the gifts and experiences in our lives. We relate best with others who share our interests same experiences and perhaps what we mention may touch another person to strengthen their relationship with God through that interest. We not only share the triumphant times, but we also share our darkest hours, our mini "Passions" so to speak. Just as Jesus through the Paschal Mystery suffered, died, and resurrected to new life, we share the times when our morose and obliterated selves suffered. We fought to our death and then it was all over in a blind screen of pure rebirth. To help others find a way out, we must share our experiences, so that they too may be saved.

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