The Catholic youth in the Eastern Cape have called for a more “welcoming and inclusive” church says the Local Ordinary of Aliwal Diocese following the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Pastoral Conference of the Xhosa Region biannual plenary meeting.

In an interview with the SACBC Communication Office Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito says youth and young adults in the Eastern Cape province wish to be given “opportunities to contribute and to participate in the life of the Church.”

The April 15 – 17 biannual plenary meeting on pastoral issues focused on youth and the promotion of the revised Xhosa hymnbook Bongan’iNkosi, which includes prayers for different liturgical celebrations.

In the interview, Bishop Kizito highlighted “ongoing formation” and “youth structures” as most youth “lack faith formation due to poor catechism, and are not well informed with the Xhosa Pastrol programs.”

Youth delegates gathered at the Palotine StepAside Retreat and Conference Centre in Oudtshoorn Diocese expressed young people’s desire to serve as “extraordinary ministers of holy communion” and to be given roles in church structures such as “the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee.”

According to Bishop Kizito catholic youth in the Eastern Cape province called for the “monitoring and evaluation of the youth ministry in dioceses, including the appointment of youth chaplains.”

Bishop Kizito said one of the challenges faced by most youth in the Eastern Cape province is a “lack of opportunities” hence young people often leave for urban cities after completing high school in pursuit of better opportunities.

For this reason, he said it is “important that priests and parents support the youth” and “listen and communicate” more with young people.

In attendance during the three-day meeting facilitated by Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka of Mthatha Diocese and Fr Mnyaka of Port Elizabeth Diocese were delegates from eight Dioceses including six Bishops.