3. Among the young, especially the most neglected (§.53-68)

53. Marcellin Champagnat lived among children and young people, loved them with passion, and devoted all his energies for them. As his disciples, we also experience a special joy in sharing our time and our persons with them, we resonate with their aspirations, we are filled with compassion for them and we reach out to them all in their difficulties.

54. In the same way that Marcellin was thinking especially of the least favoured of young people in founding the Marist Brothers, our preference is to be with those who are excluded from the mainstream of society, and those whose material poverty leads them to be deprived also in relation to health, family life, schooling, and education in values. ¹

55. We recognise in this love for all young people, and especially for the poor, the essential identifying marks of our Marist mission. ²

56. Further, fidelity to our charism requires us to be constantly alert to the evolving social and cultural forces that have a profound influence on the self-perception of young people, and on their spiritual, emotional, social and physical well-being.

57. Our world today is confronted by new challenges: global interdependence, living in pluralist societies, secularisation, and the advent of new technologies. Such developments set new horizons and, despite their ambiguities, create new possibilities.

58. Some trends pose threats for the healthy growth of the young, such as the rapid pace of change, a culture of individualism and consumerism, insecurity in family and work prospects. In some situations there is not enough change taking place: the gap between the rich and poor continues to grow in a world dominated by the vested interests of the powerful; our world is still scarred by wars. Gross inadequacy of living conditions and educational opportunities, as well as the experience of personal violence, abandonment, exploitation and discrimination of all kinds, continue to be the daily reality for many.

59. We also see some clear signs of hope: ³ a growing acknowledgement of human rights, including the rights of children, and efforts to provide universal education for children; wonderful examples of progress in the service of human life, and a growing awareness of our responsibility for the environment; the efforts of peace-makers, and of people working to overcome injustices; the desire of the poor and marginalised to become actively involved in their liberation and development in the face of repressive structures; so many people, especially the young, committed to building bridges of solidarity among different peoples and offering their services as volunteers.

60. Through our ordinary contacts with individual young people, we come to appreciate their idealism and their need to be part of groups that energise them and give them a sense of identity. We know how, at their best, they are joyful, enthusiastic, and frank, how they are willing to trust, how they want to take part, and express their sense of freedom.

61. We feel their keen sense of justice, their desire for a more caring world, and their hunger for the spiritual. We hear their personal cries for acceptance and intimacy, for a quality education, for hope and authenticity, for meaning and purpose. We sense their eyes on us, examining our credibility as adult role models.

62. Often, however, we find young people who are discouraged, disoriented, or for whom life is a daily struggle. We see them dealing with learning difficulties, personal disabilities, lack of acceptance from peers. We meet many who are unchurched, ignorant of Jesus Christ, or indifferent to him and his message. We witness the inner turmoil of those who are victims of poverty, family disintegration, abuse, and social upheavals. In their confusion, they can be disruptive and angry, and even indulge in self-destructive behaviour.

63. To all in our care we are present with Marcellin’s spirit of practical compassion. ⁴ We listen with our hearts to his words, "Take particular care of the poor children, the most ignorant and the dullest; show such children a lot of kindness; ask them often how they are, and make it clear on all occasions that you esteem them and love them all the more for the fact that fortune has not smiled on them nor has nature favoured them." ⁵

64. But the harsh reality of the lives of so many of these children and youth moves us personally, and as a group, to grow spiritually and to respond in more daring and more decisive ways in fidelity to the Gospel and to our charism. ⁶

65. In opening our eyes and hearts to the depths of suffering of young people, we begin to share God’s compassion for the world. Our faith enables us to see the face of Jesus in those who are suffering - we take some personal action to help; further, we experience indignation and outrage at the structures that create or condition poverty - we begin to address causes rather than symptoms.

66. We are humbled before the determination and capacity of the poor to help themselves - we hear the voice of God and see the hands of God and God’s power in their struggles; we can become disillusioned with our own poverty and the human weakness of the poor until we learn real solidarity - together, no longer "us" and "them", we recognise the cause of the poor as God’s cause, and that there are parts of all of us and our situations that only God can heal.

67. We embark on the transformation, where necessary, of our existing institutional structures and other ministries to reach out more effectively to young people who are truly vulnerable or marginalised because of family or social circumstances. ⁷

68. We hear the call, especially the Brothers, ⁸ to even take the risk of giving up some of our security and going where no-one else is going, to the "periphery" and the "frontier". ⁹