Cybercatechesis: Journeying Together with the Youth in Communicating Faith Towards A Synodal Church

Abstract

This paper is intended to contribute to the discussion of the “revitalization (renewal) of catechesis in the digital and social media era,” especially in the context of Millennials and Gen Z in St. Antonius Padua Parish, Kotabaru, Yogyakarta. With the advancement of digital media, the inclusion of digital media in the pastoral care of young people, especially evangelization to Millennials and Gen Z, is an urgent need to be followed up by the Church. This paper focuses on the youth’s involvement in digital catechesis towards a synodal church. The authors conducted qualitative research with a naturalistic descriptive design through a participatory observational literature review to collect data. As the Church today echoes the spirit of synodality, God’s people are invited to participate in the mission of the Church with full faith and joy of love because Christ himself sent us to the world to proclaim the Gospel. The main result of this inquiry is that the spirit of synodality in the Church can be seen in the apostolic spirit that each youth carries out to realize a truly Christian life through various services in cybercatechesis. They are active in peer catechism activities, accompanying initiation sacrament lessons, and coaching young people. Their lay apostolic zeal greatly contributes to the wider spread of the Gospel, even reaching many existing places and touching the daily life of Christian people.