ASIA/INDIA – Indian youth, evangelists in society, for the common good
Nadiad (Agenzia Fides) – Indian Catholic youth are evangelists in society and are actively involved in bringing the views of Christ to issues such as human dignity, poverty, addiction, youth issues, enmity between ethnic and religious communities: this is what Pastor Chetan Machado, executive secretary of the Indian Bishops’ Conference Youth National Commission (CCBI), told Agenzia Fides. The Commission organized in recent days, in collaboration with the Catholic Youth Movement of India (ICYM), the 4th National Youth Conference at the Nadiad Pastoral Center in Gujarat, West India. No less than 437 delegates from all over the country participated in this conference to share their faith stories and life experiences, discussing the theme “Youth for the Synod Church”.
Chetan Machado added: “The National Youth Conference is an important moment for the world of youth in our Church: many issues are discussed every year and decisions are made, to help youth leaders and all those involved in youth ministry in India, to guide young people in bringing the gospel to life. Indian society, so that truth, justice, peace and harmony can flourish.” From various meeting sessions or groups, young people share their stories, dreams, aspirations and hopes,” he said.
Bishop Soosai Nazarene, Bishop of Kottar and President of the CCBI Youth Commission, celebrated the inaugural Mass and opened the conference, where Jyotsna D’Souza, National President of ICYM, presented the association’s annual report. During the conference, workshops are held on various topics concerning the lives of young people and their mission in the Church. Father Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference, and Jesuit Father Cedrick Prakash, a human rights activist, spoke to young people and made them aware of their vocation and mission.
Young people want to convey a message of peace and harmony, within the nation’s ethnic and religious diversity, commit – as they said during the meeting – to participate in nation building “to establish the kingdom of God on earth”, live as “responsible citizens, promoters and protagonists of change”, starting from the basic right to embrace one’s faith, sticking together to promote justice and peace and defend Christian values.
(SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2022)
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