By CSN Media
The National Youth Animator, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Boniface Idoko, has reminded youth chaplains that their role requires sacrificing themselves to satisfy the youths in their care. He emphasized that chaplains should see themselves as both pastors and shepherds, accompanying the young souls entrusted to them in their life journeys.
Speaking on “Apostolate of Presence: A Unique Dimension of Being a Youth Chaplain” during a capacity-building training for Catholic youth chaplains on June 28, 2024, at the CSN conference room, Fr. Idoko urged chaplains to be available, accessible, and approachable to the youths, enriching and nourishing them with their presence.
“Accompany them in their life journeys as groups and individuals. In their spiritual experiences, in their struggle to find meaningful life, in their struggle to earn a living, in their fears and anxieties, in their successes and celebrations. Bless them with your presence; enrich and nourish them with your presence. Encourage them with your presence. Even when you have nothing to say, be there; even when you don’t understand, be there; even when you don’t enjoy it, still be there. Your presence makes all the difference. Be accessible, be approachable, and be available for their programmes,” he stressed.
In his presentation on the topic “The ministry of the chaplain in the life of the church,” Fr. Augustine Okochi, Director of Pastoral Agents Department, CSN, emphasized the importance of the virtue of integrity and honesty among the chaplains in carrying out their duties. He elaborated on the role of chaplains as representatives of the bishops, and reminded them of their responsibility to embody the qualities of a good shepherd. He urged them to guide, teach, sanctify, admonish, exhort, mentor, comfort, and reprimand, thereby ensuring the ecclesiality, fidelity, and vitality of the lay group under their care.
On his own part, Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, National Director of Social Communications, CSN, appealed to the directors to prioritize media development, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) technology, among the youths, both at diocesan and parish levels. He noted that the church’s future would largely depend on how effectively the gospel message is communicated to young people through emerging technologies like AI.
Other presentations made at the training include “The role of the chaplain in protecting the minors and vulnerable persons” by Rev. Fr. Christopher Nnubia; “Understanding common mental health issues affecting the youths for effective youth ministry in Nigeria” by Dr. Raphael Aguanunu; and “Resource mobilization for effective youth ministry in Nigeria” by Ivy Odia Basil-Ofili, amongst others.
The training, organized to sensitize and revitalize chaplains on their duties and pastoral demands, brought together chaplains from the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), the National Association of Catholic Corpers (NACC), as well as Young Catholic Students of Nigeria (YCSN), from across the country.
