Catholic youth movement gets Vatican approval

Mangalore Today News Network

Asia, Apr 15, 2016: The Vatican has recognized "CYM"  Catholic youth movement that began some 30 years ago in southern India as an international association, making it the second such organization in the Catholic Church in Asia.

Jesus Youth, which began as an offshoot of Catholic charismatic movement of 1980s in Kerala, has been recognized as an international private association of Catholics with canonical standing.

The Pontifical Council for the Laity will award the decree of recognition April 20 at a function in the Vatican, the organization’s director for international missions Subin Jacob told media.  The new status gives the organization the official status of a global church organization, allowing it to continue to function with autonomy as a lay movement.


Approval as a private organization also recognizes the fact that it was started by individual Catholics and not by a cleric. This is the Vatican’s second such approval for a lay movement in Asia, Jacob said.

Couples for Christ, which is based in the Philippines, was the other lay movement. Established in 1981, Couples for Christ is a movement dedicated to the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life.The Vatican approved it as a private international association of lay faithful in 2000.

Jesus Youth is now active in 25 countries around the world, with a presence in five continents, Jacob said.
The movement also does not have any registered membership but volunteers assist to hold prayer meetings and retreats and other such spiritually oriented programs for young people, Jacob said.

Jesus Youth first received approval as a church organization from the Indian Catholic bishops’ conference in 2008.

Faith and character formation of young Catholics is the aim of the movement.   Jesus Youth promotes a spirituality based on the practice of six pillars: daily prayer, the Word of God, sacraments, fellowship, evangelization and helping the underprivilaged.