In line with its commitment to accompany and form those who journey with the young, Loyola School of Theology (LST) continues to offer two specialized courses on Youth Ministry every academic year, designed to deepen the formation of youth and campus ministers and to strengthen the foundations of their pastoral work.
These courses are taught by Fr. Jerome Vallabaraj, SDB, a prominent Indian Salesian theologian and internationally recognized expert in Youth Ministry and Catechetics. Through these offerings, LST provides sustained and in-depth formation that responds to the evolving realities, challenges, and hopes of young people today.
Animation: A Paradigm for Youth Ministry (Second Semester: January to May)
For the current Second Semester, Fr. Vallabaraj is teaching the course “Animation: A Paradigm for Youth Ministry.” The course is offered in two modalities to make it accessible to a wider range of youth ministers:
Face-to-face classes: Wednesdays, 2:00–4:50 PM, at LST
Fully online classes (via Zoom): Saturdays, 9:00–11:50 AM, for participants who live far from LST, are from the provinces, and abroad.
The course invites youth ministers to make a paradigm shift in their approach to ministry. Moving beyond the three commonly used management paradigms—Scientific, Human Relations, and Human Resource—the course proposes Animation as a fourth and more holistic paradigm. Rooted in a love for life and the spiritual character of the human person, Animation seeks to initiate the young into the fullness of life through meaning-making, shared vision, and mission-oriented engagement.
Ultimately, this paradigm aims to restore to the young the joy of a full life and the courage to hope, empowering them to become active participants in a mission that transcends individual tasks.
Fundamentals of Youth Ministry (First Semester: August to December)
Every First Semester, LST offers the course “Fundamentals of Youth Ministry,” also taught by Fr. Vallabaraj. Rather than focusing on techniques or “how-to” methods, this course engages participants in the non-negotiable foundations of Youth Ministry.
The course emphasizes that: “Vision without action remains a dream. Action without vision is mere pastime. Action with vision leads to fruitfulness.”
Participants are guided to reflect on the theological, pastoral, and pedagogical principles that shape a truly transformative Youth Ministry. The course elaborates on eight essential pastoral-pedagogical criteria applicable to all Youth Ministry contexts and critiques existing paradigms before presenting Animation as a compelling and spiritually grounded framework for ministering to the young.
Continuing the Momentum of International Conferences on Youth Ministry
These two courses also respond to LST’s broader mission to serve youth formators in the Philippines and beyond. In April 2023 and April 2024, LST hosted the International Conference on Youth Ministry for two consecutive years. The conferences drew over 700 participants from across the Philippines and from abroad, reflecting a strong desire for deeper formation among those working with the youth.
The annual Youth Ministry courses are offered as a continuing formation pathway following these international gatherings, enabling participants to integrate insights from the conferences into sustained theological and pastoral reflection.
Journeying with the Youth: A Jesuit Apostolic Commitment
Among the Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus is the call to “Journey with the Youth.” LST’s consistent offering of these Youth Ministry courses is a concrete expression of this commitment. Through rigorous theological reflection, interdisciplinary engagement, and a spiritually grounded paradigm of ministry, LST seeks to contribute to a Youth Ministry that truly transforms lives—both of the young and of those who accompany them.
About the Professor
Fr. Jerome Vallabaraj, SDB, is a Salesian priest from Tamil Nadu, India. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, specializing in Youth Ministry and Catechetics, from the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome, where he served as Professor at the Faculty of the Sciences of Education from 2002 to 2013. He is currently a professor at the Don Bosco Theological Center, Kavarapettai, the theological center of the Chennai Province of the Salesians.
Fr. Vallabaraj is a prolific author whose works include:
Empowering the Young Towards Fullness of Life (2003)
Animating the Young: An Introduction to a Holistic Paradigm of Youth Ministry (2005)
Empowering Through Animation (2010, with S. Korath)
Faith-Focused Mentoring as a Paradigm for Youth Catechesis (2012)
Cultivating a Faith that Transforms (2023, with A. Lourdunathan)
Through his teaching and scholarship, Fr. Vallabaraj continues to inspire youth ministers to accompany the young with vision, depth, and hope.
For more information on enrollment and course offerings, interested participants may visit the LST website or email admin@lst.edu.
