Youth Ministry in and beyond the Church? The sacrament of confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church as a testcase[1

Abstract

This article deals with the dilemma in which the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe is involved, concerning the initiation of young people into the life and faith of Christian communities. Some people argue that only a solid and profound mystagogical catechesis can revitalise the congregation, other people are in favour of the idea that the church should remain open for every particular quest for meaning of young people today. Two different opinions on the meaning of the gospel for postmodern youth cultures are at stake. In the field of confirmation catechesis this discussion culminates in strong tensions and conflicts. In this article a third vision on confirmation catechesis is presented which focuses on the hermeneutical qualities of the Christian gospel and on the possibility of young people to explore these qualities by ‘following the church at some distance’. [1] This article was originally published in the Flemish pastoral review Collationes(1998, Vol. 28, pp. 91‐100) with many references to Flemish literature (books, articles, materials, brochures and policy statements). It has been shortened and re‐edited for an international forum. I thank John Ries for his valuable help in translating the text.