Archbishop Anthony Muheria, says we must make the time to really get to know and accompany our young people, and how at times this can make a life or death difference….
The Keynan Archbishop of Nyeri told this to ZENIT while speaking at a briefing in the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office today, with its Director, Greg Burke; the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications’ Prefect, Paolo Ruffini; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P. of Vienna, Austria; and Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and president of the Irish Bishops’ Conference.
Responding to what he will be taking back with him from this Synod and putting to practice, Archbishop Muheria stressed how important it is for prelates to really find or make the time to get to know their young people.
«What strikes me most was the intervention of a young person who said, How many of you know us by name. That was a great challenge. I know many, many young people, but now I am determined to know as many as I can by name, by their situations.»
Perhaps it is not just a question of memory, he reflected, but really identifying oneself with each one that I know.
«Each one that I have met, I want to give them time. I must make time. That’s something I have been doing, but I need to do it more.»
He recalled that during the Synod there was a young person from India who spoke and recalled how he was almost pushed to suicide, but somehow recovered, due to accompaniment, understanding and empathy.
«Now he is thinking of becoming a priest,» Archbishop Muheria said.
«So vocation which has also been part of the Synod comes through, like Jesus calls us by name, because He knows us by name. So vocation is not just an activity organized, it is when we really reach out to each person by name, to them personally, to their issues.»
«We need to think about how much we have really listened, to even 10 percent of the challenges.»
