Syro Malankara Church Calls Youth to Be Active Witnesses in Faith and Service

Marking Youth Day 2025, the Syro Malankara Catholic Church urges young people to take up their role as “active witnesses of today,” calling for deeper faith, social engagement and responsible use of technology to build a vibrant Church rooted in service and community.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — Young people are not only the hope of the Church’s future but also “the active witnesses of today,” the Syro Malankara Catholic Church said in a circular for Youth Day 2025, urging its young faithful to remain “active and vibrant so that the Church may continue to grow in faith, service and communion.”

In the Sept. 25 directive addressed to youth leaders and communities, the Church writes that “within the great Family of God the young person is the bridge between tradition and tomorrow”. It underlines that young people are called to a “responsible participation” and to assume their place as “builders of the Kingdom of God” in a world that is rapidly changing.

Youth Day in the Catholic Church is observed annually on the Solemnity of Christ the King, which falls on the last Sunday of November.

The Syro Malankara Catholic Church circular observes that “we are living in a time of transition, challenge and opportunity” and urges youth to engage fully with their faith, the community and society at large. It states clearly: “our youth must be rooted in the Word of God, open to the action of the Holy Spirit and committed to service”. Among the priority action areas, the document highlights faith formation, leadership, ecumenical outreach, social-justice engagement and the digital dimension of evangelism.

According to the release, the Church invites all youth groups and parishes to choose a theme that “reflects the local situation of the youth” while aligning with the universal call of the Church. It encourages gatherings, prayer services, retreats, and community-service programmes which will enable “an authentic encounter with Christ and with one another”.

In thoughtful reflection, the circular adds that “technology and social media have become essential in the life of young people” and that the Church must help them “to use these gifts wisely, drawing them into communion rather than isolation”. It acknowledges the complexities of contemporary youth life, noting that peer pressure, mental-health challenges and the pace of change require a strong spiritual foundation.

Highlighting the communal dimension, the directive states: “Youth belong to the parish, to the eparchy and to the Church; they cannot live their faith in isolation”. It calls for mentoring, accompaniment by clergy and lay leaders, and formation of structures that allow youth to “feel a sense of belonging and responsibility”.

The circular also draws attention to the global dimension of youth ministry in the Syro Malankara context. It affirms that young people are “citizens of the world”, while also being “members of the Particular Church”. This dual identity, the text argues, invites them to live “faithfully and boldly” in the wider society. It calls on youth to engage in service, build bridges across communities and “promote peace and reconciliation”.

As the Church prepares to celebrate Youth Day events, it urges all parishes to document their programmes and share best practices so that the experiences can inspire other youth groups. It insists that such sharing is “an act of solidarity among the young Church” and fosters a culture of collaboration rather than competition.

“We entrust you, our dear youth, to the loving care of the Blessed Mother and we ask you to respond generously to the call of Christ in this hour of history,” the circular states. With this, the Syro Malankara Catholic Church sets out a comprehensive plan to engage its young people in leadership, service and faith—not as a promise for the future, but as active witnesses in the present.