YOUCAT: The Faith in a Language for Youth

The YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) is more than just a book; it is a vital tool for the New Evangelization, offering a contemporary and accessible presentation of the Catholic faith specifically for adolescents and young adults.

The Genesis: How YOUCAT Came to Be
The existence of YOUCAT is rooted in the 1980s initiative by Pope St John Paul II to create the modern, comprehensive Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). The goal was to articulate the Church's teachings clearly in a changing cultural climate.

Years later, recognizing the need to communicate these profound truths to a generation with a different outlook and communication style, the question arose: should the Catechism be translated into the language of young people?

Inspiration: The enthusiasm of young people at World Youth Day (WYD) events spurred the idea to create a youth-friendly version.

The Architect Under the proven leadership of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Wien the principal editor of the original CCC, a new team was formed. Critically, this team included young Catholics themselves, ensuring the text and presentation resonated with their peers.

The Launch
YOUCAT was officially published in 2011 and famously distributed to participants during World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. Pope Benedict XVI wrote a heartfelt foreword, personally endorsing the book and urging young people to "Study this Catechism with passion and perseverance."

Structure and How to Use It for Study Sessions:
YOUCAT is structured identically to the CCC, covering the four main pillars of the Catholic faith:
1. What We Believe (based around the Creed)
2. How We Celebrate the Christian Mysteries (the Sacraments)
3. How We Are to Live (moral life and the Commandments)
4. How We Should Pray (prayer and the spiritual life)
Its design is intentionally modern and engaging, making it perfect for both individual study and group sessions.

The Impact on Youth
YOUCAT has quickly become one of the best-selling Catholic books worldwide, selling over 5 million copies and available in 25 languages. Its impact stems from its ability to meet young people where they are:

• Addresses Skepticism Directly: The questions are direct and honest, tackling difficult or "counter-cultural" topics with straightforward and compelling answers, preventing young people from simply accepting the shallow ideas of the surrounding culture. • Encourages Deep Roots: As Pope Benedict XVI stated, it helps young people "be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of your parents," preparing them to face the "challenges and temptations of this time."
• Fosters Community and Mission: The use of YOUCAT in study groups creates a space for young people to share their faith and discover they are not alone. This shared journey often leads to the formation of YOUCAT Missionaries and deeper engagement in the Church's mission of evangelization.
• Provides a Reliable Manual: It serves as a trusty pocket manual for faith, enabling young people to articulate what Catholics believe and why, transforming them from passive recipients of faith into active, articulate followers of Christ.

YOUCAT Responds to the Faith Needs of Our Youth
YOUCAT is specifically designed to understand the language of young people and directly address their unique questions and needs in the modern world. It is a bridge between the enduring truths of the Catholic faith and the contemporary youthful experience.

YOUCAT INDIA and Its Activities
YOUCAT INDIA is an international missionary movement serving under the guidance of the Dicastery for Evangelisation and the leadership of the YOUCAT Foundation Germany. In India, it operates under the CCBI Commission for Faith Formation, with Fr. Vijay Machado serving as the Executive Secretary of the commission and Director of YOUCAT INDIA. It operates through Inter Commission mode – along with CCBI YOUTH Commission.

• Structure: It has a dedicated leadership team comprising 20 active, trained youth members. While a movement, it is not a separate entity and functions in collaboration with the CCBI Youth Commission and other Catholic youth movements.
• Main Aim: The primary goal is to strengthen the faith of young people by understanding their language and answering their specific faith needs.

• Collaborative Mission of YOUCAT India
The movement has following wings to carry out the ministry such as:
YOUCAT INTERCESSORY TEAM
YOUCAT SOCIAL MEDIA AND CREATIVE TEAM
YOUCAT STUDY SESSION TEAM
YOUCAT ST JOHN’S MEDICAL COLLEGE NETWORK
YOUCAT HINDI MISSIONARY NETWORK
YOUCAT INDIA ONLINE MISSIONARY NETWORK

Programmes and Activities
YOUCAT India offers two main types of programmes to engage young Catholics:

For more details on YOUCAT study materials, events, or for training inquiries, and to join YOUCAT INDIA NETWORK please contact:
• Fr. Vijay Machado (Director, YOUCAT INDIA Office)
Mrs. Jubee Babu (Coordinator)
• Phone: +91 95627 47322
• Email: faithformation@ccbi.in