St Jude youth seek greater trust in leadership opportunities

The Church of St Jude held its Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) recently, drawing around 200 parishioners to discuss the findings from a recent Study Day and outline a roadmap for the parish’s future.

Oct 18, 2024

Group discussions


RAWANG:
The Church of St Jude held its Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) recently, drawing around 200 parishioners to discuss the findings from a recent Study Day and outline a roadmap for the parish’s future.

The assembly featured a keynote address by Archbishop Julian Leow, who commended parish priest Fr Vincent Thomas for organising the event and garnering significant attendance. In her opening remarks, Parish Pastoral Council chairperson Christine Vincent expressed gratitude to the archbishop for making time to attend and extended a warm welcome to the Archdiocesan Pastoral team, led by Rita Krishnan, Walter Victor, and I. Pathinathan.

The key focus of the PPA was the findings of a study conducted on September 6, which identified four major areas of concern: family, church, ecology, and society. The study revealed that parishioners are grappling with financial and health challenges, straining family relationships and increasing the need for community support. Furthermore, a lack of strong leadership within the parish was cited as a barrier to effectively engaging the community.

In particular, the parish’s youth voiced their desire for greater trust to take on leadership roles within the church. They suggested that senior leaders, having served long enough, should consider stepping aside to allow new leadership to emerge.

On the environmental front, the study underscored the need for enhanced environmental education and sustainable practices within the parish. It suggested incorporating the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) principle into catechism classes, with a focus on tree planting and creating awareness among both children and adults about sustainability. However, resistance to participation in ecological initiatives remains an issue.

Archbishop Julian highlighted the importance of unity, service, and commitment to Christ’s teachings throughout the assembly. The PPA concluded with a call for the parish to address the challenges outlined and work toward building a more vibrant, engaged community.

As St Jude’s parish moves forward, the insights gathered from this assembly are expected to guide its future direction, addressing critical concerns and fostering greater involvement. --Mercy Almeida Stellus

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