Where have all the youngsters gone?

Where have all the youngsters gone?

by Deacon Alex

“Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing …” I am a Baby-Boomer. I did not suffer the atrocities of World War II nor the Chinese Liberation/Cultural Revolution. My parents did. Life in Hong Kong was still hard but full of opportunities. “What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be blessed and prosper” (Psalms 128:2). How true the Psalter was. In those days when you’re willing to work, you would be able to climb up the social ladder and your family would lead a decent life. The only war waging near us was the Vietnam War and we’re fed with anti-war songs like “Where have all the flowers gone (1955)”, “Blowing in the Wind (1963)”, “Bring ’em Home (1966)”, “Give Peace a Chance (1969)” and “Imagine (1971)” etc. This excerpt from my autobiography would pretty much portray the cultural outlook of the author.

Today, the melody rings a different tune in the ears of many Church leaders. “Where have all the youngsters gone, long time passing?” Without exception, young people are departing from all Christian denominations in droves. The trend is worrying indeed. Sooner of later, the remaining ones would be completely wiped out from Church attendances together with all the elders and seniors! No denomination is exempted. What is happening? The Church has been evangelizing through alms-giving, schooling, taking care of the sick and the elderly etc. In fact, she has been very proactive in evangelizing through the mass media too: books, magazines, newspapers, radios, televisions and movies … except the Internet. Indeed, the Church has caught on the bandwagon of Information Technology rather slowly!

On the other hand, young people have at long last found a turf where they’re able to have greater control. In previous ages, young people were mere appendages of the masters of the house. In Greek and Latin, a son and a servant is the same word! Not only were they dispensable, but their opinions were also rarely heard. Thanks to the advances in technology, young people nowadays are able to gain access to and flex their muscles in huge computing power and the Internet. The youngsters’ mind is like a sponge which is able to pick up and absorb all the skills and intricacies of computers and mobile phones in tremendous speed. In the adults’ eyes, young people are addicted to computer games and social media. They don’t care about getting a decent and stable job, nor getting married. They shut themselves inside their rooms, meeting their peers in virtual reality! “A great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours” (Luke 16:26) aptly describes the generation gap between adults and youngsters today! But remember too, “Nothing will be impossible for God” (1:37). So, what have the Church and the young people NOT done?

Remove prejudices and walk together. Listen to each other and understand. It takes time to mature and don’t expect successes overnight. Therefore accept the “unrealistic” ideas of young people. Haven’t we all been exceedingly idealistic before? Let go and allow us to make mistakes together. Remember that our failures might not be our faults but that of the established institutions, meaning the faults of our fathers/leaders! If by chance my readers are young, I pray that you understand that ageing is take toll on us. Forgive and be patient with us for we are slower, less flexible and more adversive to losing controls … However, the author is still full of hope because he saw more than 1.5 million young people gather together in Portugal to celebrate mass in open air …

Beloved brethren! Let’s pray with the Pope in August to the Lord to help young people and us live and bear witness to the conciliatory spirit of the Gospel in our lives. Amen.