YOUTH VOICES • THE SMALL WAYS

DOING ‘LITTLE’ THINGS WHICH MAKE A BIG IMPACT

BY Jill Williams | Candidate Landscape Architect, Pretoria

ALTHOUGH I HAD regularly seen and purchased the Liturgical Calendar published by the Comboni Missionaries, I had never really known about Worldwide Magazine until I started attending mass at St Augustine Parish, Silverton, Pretoria. There, I had my first experience of the Comboni Missionaries and their work. It was refreshing to see priests who were actively involved in the everyday activities of the parish and its life. Gardening, cooking, making home-made jam and honey, starting soccer clubs, making jewellery, and helping with the setting up and cleaning before and after events are some of the little things they would do, which united them with the rest of the community. This continuous and practical example of fraternal love and obedience to God’s call greatly impacted me. I realised how human the clergy are and how much prayer and grace are needed to remain humble servant-leaders. If you’ve never seen it for yourselves, you might not understand the necessity of this, especially in a religious context. Every day, people need to see in us practical examples of the life God has called us to. 

Getting in touch with Worldwide

When I was introduced to Worldwide Magazine, published by the Comboni Missionaries, Fr Joseph Rebelo was the editor and, though I myself was not a Worldwide reader yet, I was constantly amazed when he promoted the magazine and narrated tales of his travels and missionary work in countries all over the world— even those where Christianity is prohibited. In all these places, Comboni Missionaries were doing even more ‘little things’ to benefit the communities they belonged to. The purpose of Worldwide Missionary Magazine began to make sense to me through these stories. The reality of the universality of missionary work became very obvious. From its foundation, this magazine has been a missionary tool. In it, stories impacting many nations are shared. Accounts of Combonis and other people of faith doing ‘little things’ which make a big impact, together with those to whom they bring the Gospel, are all captured in the pages of the magazine.

I have always loved writing and was keen to contribute to Worldwide in any way I could.

Voice to the Youth

Up until that point, the magazine had developed in many ways and targeted a broad audience, including the academic community (even receiving awards), reaching Christians of various denominations, and any person throughout the world willing to engage. The magazine was, however, in my view, not yet attempting to reach out to the youth. Fr Rafael Armada became the editor of the magazine towards the end of 2020, when Fr Joseph was assigned to a new mission. I admired how open Fr Rafael was to learn, to new ideas, and how he approached our youth group to find out what we might have in mind for the future of the magazine. I have always loved writing and was keen to contribute to Worldwide in any way I could. Although I initially didn’t think he was serious, Fr Rafa, as he is fondly known, encouraged me to write articles for the magazine. At the time, I was still a student, and I was not sure if I’d be a good fit, as I had mostly been doing blogging. I never thought I would be a writer for a professional magazine. Under his guidance, and that of Fr Prosper Tehou, Fr Efrem Tresoldi, Fr Raul Tabaranza, and Fr Edgar Vizcarra, I have been greatly encouraged to become more confident in writing and finding my own style and voice. This was the beginning of the “Youth Voices” section of the magazine, which was officially seen in print for the first time in February 2021. I believe that this was a game-changer, not only for myself, but for the future of Worldwide.

By creating a space for youth to speak, we can see and understand the world in ways that might not have been considered before.

Challenges from the Youth

Although the Youth Voices Section takes up a small portion of the magazine, I believe it holds great value. It does not intend to contend with the impeccable impact of the magazine as a whole, but attempts to level the playing field for Worldwide to be accessible to all people; to rethink what the norm is, to ask questions about why things are done the way they are, and to find out what God’s will may be in any given situation. It aims to determine how one can transform the topics dealt with in each issue and turn the challenges and even painful experiences that the local and global community at large face into new and universally relatable opportunities. By creating a space for youth to speak and be a unique missionary voice amidst many missionary voices, we can see and understand the world in ways that might not have been considered before.

Youth Voices has the ongoing opportunity of rethinking what makes missionary work effective and promoting Gospel values, the ‘little things’, that can be accomplished by anyone in their daily lives. Various young writers and contributors have also come on board for certain issues of the magazine and have contributed articles or their time and knowledge to Youth Voices. We have included pieces by young people from St Augustine Parish, Silverton, Dylan Gous, Mathudi Ralekhetho and Tumi Pare (who co-wrote an article for Youth Voices with me back in 2021), Mpho Sibanyoni (a poet from Mamelodi), Fabian Oliver (who I began writing with for the Archdiocese of Johannesburg Catholic Youth, a few years before doing it for Worldwide Magazine), as well as from Xavier and Nicole Mateman and Crystal Theresa who added a unique perspective in their writing: that of being young parents. 

Digital platforms

Furthermore, it is through the youth that the magazine has a fully functioning Facebook page! Tumi and I initially managed the Facebook page; however, Kate now does this, with the assistance of one of the Comboni scholastics, Br Eugene Simukoko. The magazine is also fully accessible online, via https://www.worldwidemagazine.org/, thanks to Father Rafael’s continued efforts. YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms will also be utilised in the future through ongoing partnerships, and by the grace of God. 

Along with many contributors…

Through this magazine, I have had the opportunity to work with and learning from many people, including (but not limited to) the Light Twins, an amazing Catholic musical duo whom I had the opportunity to interview, Fr Anthony Egan, a very knowledgeable Jesuit priest, Kati Dijane, who recently joined the family, Dillon Naicker, whom I’ve known and been inspired by for many years, Deacon Callum Scott, who is a Diocesan Brother, spiritually based at St Augustine Parish, and Carla Fibla, a journalist who assisted Father Rafa for a while in improving the look, feel and readability of the magazine.

Even the small ‘insignificant’ acts of obedience and faith never remain unnoticed. Let us offer them to Jesus and allow him to do the rest.

It was never smooth sailing to be a contributor to the magazine, and I still frequently grapple with how to appropriately address the themes for each issue, making them relevant for youth. I am, however, regularly reminded of God’s provision of grace and his leading in the process of writing. 

The little things

In the Gospel of Mark 10:13-16, Jesus, while teaching people, is interrupted by parents who wish to bring their children to him to touch and bless them. In the eyes of the disciples, this was not “as important” as healing people and delivering them from the demonic influence. They were eager to dismiss the parents and their children so that Jesus could continue with what they thought was more important. Jesus, however, knew that it was the parents’ simple “little” act of obedience in bringing the children to him that would make a great impact on the lives of these children, their parents, and the community at large. On this anniversary of the initiation of the Magazine, let us be encouraged and reminded that even the small ‘insignificant’ acts of obedience and faith, especially in the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus, never remain unnoticed. Let us offer them to Jesus and allow him to do the rest.