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Anxiety, stress and unexpected changes in lifestyles are making it increasingly difficult for many youngsters to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol and substance abuse are on the rise as young people desperately search for answers to what is hap-pening around them. Mental health issues are rapidly following In the wake of the phys-ical health and socio-economic issues caused by COVID-19.

From warm greetings, to music and dancing, to practical tips, a World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical International Youth Day on 12 August drew young people from across the world for a virtual gathering that explored the theme of mental health, and how churches can support young people in this area of their lives.

More than 30 alumni of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Young Adults Training for Religious Amity programme gathered online over the last two weeks for a unique “Train the Trainers” event to equip former participants with the skills to organise interreligious dialogue and training in their own communities. The training, which brought together former participants from 2014-2019, included four webinars focussed on deepening interreligious awareness as well as developing leadership competencies in facilitation.

During a graduation webcast, students from the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute Bossey described what it was like to live for ten months or more in an environment like no other. As they receive their post-graduate degrees in ecumenical studies, they look back fondly on their sense of community, professors—and even the food.

When asked on the day of her graduation how she would describe Bossey, former student Quantisha Mason replied, ’Bossey is like a love letter to God.’ Now, the Ecumenical Institute invites prospective students to apply for the study year of 2021-2022.

A new Bible study, “Facing the Red Sea: Facing the Red Sea: Overcoming Fear by Using Your Gifts,” by Joy Eva Bohol asks Christians to counter their apprehension with activity in service of others.

On 12 August, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will celebrate Ecumenical International Youth Day with the theme “Young People and Mental Health.” A worship celebration with expert speakers, music, prayer and Bible studies is being planned, and a “toolkit” is being released before the event to help WCC member churches provide a safe space for youth to strengthen their mental health.

El 12 de agosto, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) celebrará el Día Ecuménico Internacional de la Juventud con el tema “Los jóvenes y la salud mental”. Se está planificando una celebración de culto con ponentes expertos en el tema, música, oraciones y estudios bíblicos, y se ha publicado una serie de recursos antes del evento para ayudar a las iglesias miembros del CMI a proporcionar un espacio seguro para que los jóvenes puedan reforzar el área de su salud mental.

Le 12 août, le Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) célèbrera la Journée internationale de la jeunesse œcuménique autour du thème «Les jeunes et la santé mentale». Une célébration de prière avec des personnes expertes s’exprimant sur le sujet, de la musique, des prières et des études bibliques sont prévues, ainsi qu’une «boîte à outils» diffusée en amont de l’événement pour aider les Églises membres du COE à offrir un espace de confiance aux jeunes dans le but d’améliorer leur santé mentale.

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent joyful greetings via a video message to Focolare youth who are about to celebrate Unity Week 2020.

El secretario general interino del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, envió un alegre saludo a través de un videomensaje a los jóvenes focolares que están a punto de celebrar la Semana Mundo Unido.

Le père Ioan Sauca, secrétaire général par intérim du Conseil œcuménique des Églises, a envoyé des salutations de joie, par le biais d’un message vidéo, aux jeunes des Focolari qui sont sur le point de célébrer la Semaine mondiale de l’unité.

A WCC support team is online and ready to help WCC member churches as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. The team—comprised of experts in different facets of faith-related pandemic response—is here for you, said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca. “These are people who can serve as a tremendous support to the WCC fellowship,” said Sauca.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Youth Engagement in the ecumenical movement plans to publish a book with young people’s voices for the first time in 25 years. We are inviting young people ages 18-30 from our member churches, ecumenical partners, and people of goodwill all over the world to submit articles on the current situation of young people today: their challenges, the transformational potentials they see, and their vision of the movement, moving forward.

El programa del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) sobre la participación de los jóvenes en el movimiento ecuménico tiene previsto publicar un libro sobre los jóvenes, por primera vez en veinticinco años. Invitamos a los jóvenes de nuestras iglesias miembros y de nuestros asociados ecuménicos de entre dieciocho y treinta años, así como a las personas de buena voluntad alrededor del mundo, a presentar artículos sobre la situación actual de los jóvenes, los retos que afrontan, las posibilidades transformadoras que ven, y su visión del movimiento y del futuro de este.

Le programme pour les jeunes dans le mouvement œcuménique du Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) prévoit de publier, pour la première fois en 25 ans, un ouvrage dans lequel les jeunes s’expriment. Nous invitons les jeunes âgé-e-s de 18 à 30 ans de nos Églises membres, partenaires œcuméniques et de bonne volonté du monde entier à soumettre des articles relatifs à la situation des jeunes d’aujourd’hui: leurs difficultés, les potentiels de transformation qu’ils identifient et leur vision du mouvement pour l’avenir.

Taking into consideration the growing global concerns and implications of the current spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the World Council of Churches (WCC) will postpone its annual Ecumenical Continuing Formation on Youth seminar in the Pacific to the end of the year 2020, with a date to be announced. The event was scheduled for June 2020 in Tonga.
The WCC is taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including cancelling or postponing certain meetings and limiting travels.

The WCC is offering member churches some resources with a human face during the COVID-19 pandemic. A team of eight resource people has been made available to consult on how churches can discern their roles during the coronavirus pandemic, how they can adapt as faith communities, and how they can connect and share with each other.

El CMI está ofreciendo a las iglesias miembros algunos recursos con rostro humano durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Se ha puesto a disposición un equipo de ocho especialistas para consultar cómo pueden las iglesias discernir sus funciones durante la pandemia del coronavirus, cómo pueden adaptarse en cuanto comunidades religiosas, y cómo pueden relacionarse entre ellas y compartir experiencias.

Le COE met à la disposition de ses Églises membres des ressources et des visages humains pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Une équipe de huit personnes-ressources a été créée pour répondre aux questions relatives au discernement des Églises sur leur rôle pendant la pandémie de coronavirus, à la manière de s’adapter en tant que communautés d’inspiration religieuse, mais aussi d’interagir et de partager les unes avec les autres.