The SACBC Inter-diocesan Youth Office is based on recommendations of the Youth Chaplains’ Conference of 1998 which formulated a basic youth structure for the Conference region. The vision statement says: “Because of the historical background of young people in South Africa, in society and within the local church, youth lacked the capacity to become fully human. They therefore need holistic development.” The office serves three countries: South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.
The chaplains met again in 2015 under the newly appointed SACBC Youth Chaplain Fr Mthembeni Dlamini CMM and formulated a new Vision and Mission Statement for the Ministry.
Vision Statement:
The Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference youth Ministry is to help develop youth to become fully human and authentic witnesses of Christ in the Church and in the Society.
Mission Statement:
To identify, Coordinate and engage with all Catholic Youth bodies in supporting and developing programs that will help them grow spiritually, morally, socially, psychologically and intellectually.
The goals of SACBC Youth Ministry:
- Provide resources that assist youth chaplains, coordinators and youth workers carry out their ministry.
- Coordinate all matters that pertains to the youth, young adults and Catholic University Students.
- Keep regular contact and be available to young people and chaplains (including ACTS, youth and young adults’ sodalities, movements and associations).
- Foster a total personal and spiritual growth of young people.
- Draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic Faith.
- Empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our World of Today.
The office is to be instrumental in developing a sustainable diocesan youth ministry and the capacity of diocesan youth chaplains and youth leaders; coordinating the specialized ministry to institutions of higher learning through ACTS (students), ACCTISA (Chaplains), ICMICA (Professionals), and REAP (Rural Access Programme); responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic through the ABCD Lifestyle Campaign and Education for Life: Youth Alive Clubs; and networking and co-coordinating Catholic Youth Movements through Chiro, Young Christian Workers, Young Christian Students and Association of Catholic Tertiary Students.
They Youth Desk also represents local bodies in the South African Youth Council; National Youth Commission, SACC Youth Forum, SACBC AIDS Office, SACBC Development Management Board and REAP Board.
International representation involves World Youth Day and International Youth Forum.
The Bishop Responsible for this Office with the SACBC Region is Bishop Stanislaw Jan Dziuba OSSE (Bishop of UMzimkhulu Diocese).
SACBC YOUTH OFFICE CO-ORDINATES
1. Cluster Youth and Young Adults Ministries
- Cluster Champlaincies
2. Diocesan Youth Ministries
- Diocesan Chaplaincies
3. Ministry to Institutions of higher learning
- University Students (ACTS – Association of Catholic Tertiary Students)
- University Chaplains
4. World Youth Day
5. Mini World Youth Day
- For more information, click here
6. Youth Programmes/Youth Campaigns
- ABCD Lifestyle Campaign
- Education For Life/Youth Alive Program
PUBLICATION
The Youth office publishes regularly documents that are available here (page under construction, will be soon available).
CONTACT:
- SACBC Liaison Bishop for the Office: Bishop Stanislaw Jan Dziuba OSPPE
- SACBC Youth & Young Adults Chaplain: Fr Mthembeni Dlamini CMM
- ACTS National Chaplain: Fr Mthembeni Dlamini CMM
399 Paul Kruger Street, PO Box 941, Pretoria 0001.
Tel: 012 323 6458,
Fax: 012 326 6218
E-mail: tmdlamini@Sacbc.org.za
LINKS