As adults listen to young people, he continued, “let us ask them to explain to us deeply why something attracts them, and perhaps we’ll be able to understand and support them.”
“Let us not just curse them and point out their mistakes but also congratulate them when they have done well,” he emphasized.
Time together should go beyond having meals in common, the Kenyan member of Opus Dei said, and called upon parents and guardians to have sessions, when they can discuss the strengths and weaknesses of those under their parental care, including adolescents in boarding schools.
He advocated for a spirit of understanding between adults and youths, urging adults to seek to know the language of young people and vice versa in view of realizing effective communication and some common ground.
The Local Ordinary of Nyeri Archdiocese since his installation in June 2017 went on to advocate for active listening, which he said is being tried out in Church institutions.
“I would ask we continue like that in the churches to set times to listen to them,” he said alluding to the multi-year Synod on Synodality that was realized under the theme, “For a synodal Church: Communion, participation and mission.”
The 62-year-old Catholic Church leader challenged young people to be respectful to elders, saying, “Before anything, show respect to parents, respect to those older than you, respect to Priests, respect to those given the responsibility to teach you.”
“And later, with respect, we will be able to have a discussion; we will be able to communicate, and we will deliberate; we will be able to listen to each other and solve what we can,” he said.
“There are many problems that have affected you, and maybe we have the solution,” Archbishop Muheria said, explaining that the practice of respect has positive results.
The Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2004 as Bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese also advocated for “openness” in communication between spouses.
