NINIWA youth movement as a legacy of st. Eugene de Mazenod in his work with the youth

Abstract

In the face of the upcoming 200^th aniversary of constitution of the Congregation of Misionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate along with the 10^th aniversary of the Oblate Youth Ministry NINIWA (English Nineveh) in Poland, an author of the article brings forward the genesis and principles of the Polish oblate youth movement. St. Eugene de Mazenod's was deeply involved in working with youths and displayed great care for this group within the Church. Though St. Eugene put sensitivity and going out towards the poor and the most abandoned first, the fact that he understood poverty mainly as a spiritual quality needs to be emphasised. In 19^th century France the most disadvantaged ones in that sense were young people lacking not only perpectives, but also a true experience of God. When St. Eugene established Youth Association in Aix, he devised curricular principles, which combined time for catechesis and prayer together with moments of relax as well as different types of games and recreation forms. Being aware of both, the fruits of and the need for this kind of work, he stated in 1818 in congregation's Constitutions and Rules that spiritual guidance of youths should be one of the main services of the congregation.

Author of the article stresses St. Eugene de Mazenod's important qualities in his youth ministry in reference to the modern oblate youth community NINIWA. Undoubtedly, St. Eugene's need to bring others to Christ as well as to share his own experience of God was an inspiration for modern ninevehmen, who cherished the same desire. Their intention was to achieve this goal and for that purpose they started to pray to become “God's tools”. That leads to the explanation of the community's and later the countrywide movement's name. Young people forming the newly constituted community NINIWA very quickly found themselves among the inhabitants of the biblical sinful city Nineveh, called to conversion, as well as identifying with a rebelious attitude of Jonas. Words of the Book of Jonas: “Rise, and go to Nineveh” become a motto of the group from now on. In time, the 3-year formation cycle based on four types of meetings and three types of weekend retreats is created. These weekends have such intriguing names as “Jonas's Mutiny”, “Desert Storm” and “Eugene's Passion”.

Proceeding with the community's identity, the author anwsers a question what makes NINIWA a reality in which young people authentically meet living God.