【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2013 年 07 月 31 日巴西里約熱內盧訊】 ─ 里約熱內盧世界青年節完結後，正是對這個充滿喜樂與信仰的盛事，進行評估及作出建議，以及饋集成果的時候。我們在此列出由知名作曲家及歌唱家，暨慈幼會前Recife省會長João Carlos Ribeiro神父的反省。
世界青年節是成功的。逾三百萬青年參與盛事，超乎所料。教宗方濟各的和藹及謙遜，並召叫教會致力服務他人，贏得所有人的心。現在正是檢視世界青年日成果的時候。其中一項預期的成果，就是在每個團體及教區，青年人在青年牧民工作中的地位得以強化。
世界青年節使青年重新成為台上的主角。媒體把焦點放在教宗身上，這固然有充分的理由，然而這並非純粹的巴西探訪之旅。 教宗在所有演講中，都把重心放在青年身上。在Aparecida，他邀請父母成為子女信仰的見證。他提醒司鐸及主教，是靠他們陪伴青年發展他們的基督徒生命。他告訴政治領袖，細察人民示威的訴求，聆聽青年並向他們提供良好教育、保健及治安服務。他在Via
Crucis歡迎典禮，以及在守夜祈禱及結束彌撒向青年的講話中，神態自然地作出提問及建議，並鼓勵他們信賴愛慕基督。
在場的青年主要來自一些不同團體及青年運動，以及一些在青年團體及教區中負責協調推動青年的牧民組織。他們並非一大群充滿好奇心的觀眾。參與世界青年節那些不同團體，都是投入青年牧民工作，善於分享反省的團體。他們得到團體的協助，籌募旅費。在青年牧民較蓬勃的堂區或教區，以及在青年活動較活潑的地區，籌備工作在青年積極參與下進展良好。在其他有待改善的地區，世界青年節大會擔當推動鼓勵的角色。各堂區及教區都把握時機，完善其青年牧民組織，並開展新的青年活動。
青年牧民是青年人參與教會的方法。青年開展他們的團體，以民主方式管理。成人、司鐸、教育者、修道者及神學生，均在青年牧民上擔當重要角色。他們代表不同團體，支援青年的靈修發展。然而青年牧民的前線領袖，必須是青年人。
教宗向眾主教表達對神職主義的譴責。神職主義以中央集權為主導，而平信徒限制於他們行動範圍。教宗表示這有助解釋「拉丁美洲大部份平信徒，都缺乏一份成熟感及基督徒自由」的情況。假若青年牧民並非由青年人主導，類似情況也會出現。
總的來說，世界青年節鼓舞人的，就是每位朝聖者個人的決志，這是首要的步驟。然而團體保證延續性並深化理解。青年人並不是孤單的。他們並非獨自參與世界青年節，而他們所在地的離散的福傳活動是不能倖存的。事實上，世界青年節的籌備工作，是由當地團體、堂區及教區的青年組織負責的。假若世界青年節完結後，教會未能繼續推廣青年組織，那麼世界青年節的成果，便會猶如三分鐘熱度般，很快便煙消雲散。
Ribeiro神父反省的全文，刊載在他的個人網誌中。
WYD: the legacy of Rio 2013
(ANS - Brazil –Rio de Janeiro, 31 July 2013) – Now that the WYD in Rio de Janeiro is over, it is time to weigh up the events and recommendations and gather the fruits of this great event of joy and faith. We carry here a summary of the reflections of Fr João Carlos Ribeiro, SDB, former provincial of Recife and well known songwriter and singer.
World Youth Day was a success. A huge number of young people took part, more than 3 million of them, surpassing all expectations. Pope Francis won them all over with his warmth, humility and his call for a Church committed to service. Now is the time to take note to the legacy of this WYD. One hoped-for result is certainly a strengthening of the work of young people in youth ministry, in every community and in every diocese.
WYD put young people back centre-stage. The media concentrated on the Pope, and with good reason, but there was more to this than just a simple visit to Brazil. (...) In all his discourses Pope Francis put young people at the centre. At Aparecida, he invited parents to be witnesses of faith to their children. He reminded the priests and bishops that it is up to them to accompany the young people in their growth as Christians. He told the politicians to pay attention to demonstrations, to listen to the young people and to provide them with a good service in education, health and security. Addressing the young people at the welcome ceremony, at the Via Crucis, at the Vigil and again at the farewell Mass, he spoke freely, asking questions, making suggestions, encouraging them to trust and to love Christ. (...)
The young people present were mainly from groups and youth movements, pastoral organizations that coordinate and mobilize young people in their communities and dioceses. They were not just a huge crowd of curious onlookers. The groups that took part in WYD were those deeply involved in youth ministry, well used to shared reflection. They had been helped by their communities in the hard work of raising funds for the journey. In places where youth ministry was strong in the parish or diocese, and in areas where the young people were already active, the work went well in the preparation and involvement of the young people. In other places where things should have been better prepared, WYD has served as an encouragement. Parishes and dioceses took advantage of the moment to improve their youth ministry organization or to start new youth activities.
Youth ministry is young people’s way of participating in the Church. The young people start their own groups and manage them democratically. Adults, priests, educators, religious and seminarians have an important role in youth ministry. On behalf of the community they support groups of young people in their spiritual development. But the front leaders in youth ministry must be the young people themselves.
Speaking to the bishops, the Pope condemned clericalism. Clericalism is when things are centralized and the laity are limited in their field of action. This explains ”the lack of adult maturity and Christian liberty in many of the lay people in Latin America”, the Pope said. And this can happen also to young people if young people are not the leaders in youth ministry.
In general, at WYD, the encouraging thing was the personal resolve of every pilgrim, and that is the first step. But the group is the guarantee of continuity and deeper understanding. The young people are not alone. They did not take part in WYD in solitude, and an isolated missionary activity in their own city will not survive. The truth is that the preparation for WYD was done by youth organizations in local communities, parishes and dioceses. If after WYD the Church does not continue to promote youth organizations, it runs the risk of losing all the good work of WYD in a wave of passing enthusiasm.
The complete text of Fr Ribeiro’s reflection is available on his blog.