Beltangady: 'Yuvajanotsava' Youth Convention off to a Brilliant Start
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (NM)
Beltangady, Sep 28: All roads led to Beltangady on Friday September 28 as the 8th Karnataka Regional Catholic Youth Convention 'Yuvajanotsava - 2012' was off to a spectacular start.
Thousands of enthusiastic youth from across the state thronged Holy Redeemer Church, Beltangady to participate in the convention.
After formally inaugurating the event, Dr Henry D’Souza, bishop of Bellary said, "Youth should become the agents of change in society, forming themselves as leaders and achievers."
Giving examples of successful people hailing from villages, he advised the youth to inculcate good values such as love, committement and sensitivity towards the poor.
Quoting the words of Mother Theresa, ‘By birth I am an Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By committement, a Catholic nun, but by service, I belong to the entire world,' he advised the youth to ‘be open minded, to serve beyond caste, creed and religion, and respect each other’.
"Don’t divide people by bringing in religion, but unite them," he stressed.
In his introductory speech, Rev Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop of Beltangady briefed on the purpose of the convention. "The three-day convention will stress on the theme ‘Transformed by Faith-Transforming the World'," he said
The keynote address was delivered by Fr Faustine Lobo, national director of Pontifical Mission Societies.
Fr Franklin Dsouza, national secretary of CBCI youth office and Rev Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, bishop of Puttur shared the dais.
Rev Lawrence Mukkazhy hoisted the national flag, which was followed by the grand eucharistic mass.
As many as 1,500 representatives and members of Bosco Youth, AICUF, Jesus Youth, ICYM and MSYS from around 750 parishes across the state took part in the mega convention.
Programmes:
On Saturday: There will be two panel discussions, workshops and a reporting session. R V D’Souza, Bangalore (public service), Rohan Monteiro, Mangalore (business/industry), Sabita Monis (academia), Cajetan Dias (creative arts), Praveen Kumar (political life) will deliver sessions on these topics, while Jose Jacob, Bangalore will be the moderator of the panel discussion. Krishna Byre Gowda, J R Lobo and Ronald Colaco will be heading the second panel discussion. Resources persons will talk on the subject ‘Youth problems and challenges’ and ‘Youth called to be achievers and leaders’.
On Sunday: A youth march for peace will be flagged off by Vincent Pala, union minister for water resources and minority affairs. Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, Dr M Veerappa Moily, union minister, Oscar Fernandes, MP, and Ronald Colaco, industrialist and philanthropist will be the chief guests. A stage programme will follow, wherein young achievers will be awarded and Kevin Misquith and his group will stage a concert.