Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

40 Youth Ministry Youth Commission Family Commission Laity Commission Youth, Family and Lay Ministry A young person stands on two feet as adults do, but unlike adults, whose feet are parallel, he always has one foot forward, ready to set out, to spring ahead. Always racing onward Christus Vivit, 140 Building upon the work of the Synod, a new European symposium on the youth was conducted in Krakow in October, 2019 attended by European delegates includ- ing the head of the Youth Commission of the UGCC Patriarchal Curia, Rev. Rostyslav Pendyuk. The repre- sentatives from different European countries discussed the Pope’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Christus Vivit" and the impact of the Synod on promoting youth ministry in their countries. In 2019 the Youth Commission of the UGCC Patriar- chal Curia had a blessed and fruitful year. The Commis- sion staff has been working together with youth min- isters, leaders of Christian youth organizations, priests involved in youth ministry in implementing its strategy on youth ministry and creating youth friendly Church environment both online and offline. Youth and fami ly mini st r y block This year the Holy Father Pope Francis issued the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Christus Vivit" addressed to young people and to the entire people of God. "Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touch- es becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive" — begins the message of Pope Francis to the youth of the world. The Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment was attended by two representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk and Bishop Bryan Bayda (head of Synodal com- mission on youth ministry). They shared the Synod’s inspiration to the youth that Christ is alive and he wants us to be alive! To be alive, means to take initiative and responsibility in realization of our voca- tion and show courage.