Media Release
Udupi, Sep 26: A scintillating and a vibrant celebration of the diocesan youth convention ‘BLOOM 2023’ organized by the diocesan ICYM was held on September 24 at the Mount Rosary Church Millenium Hall, Santhekatte, Kallianpur.
This festive day uniting all the diocesan youth in a spirit of enthusiasm commenced with an inauguration. The morning session was compered by Ashish Menezes.
A warm welcome was extended to the dignitaries in a unique traditional way. They were greeted by a show of amazing celebratory welcome dance. After invoking God’s choicest blessings on the entire programme, though a prayer song, the programme flowed into the Inaugural ceremony. The programme was presided by the vicar general of the diocese of Udupi - Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves. The stage was also shared by Dr Roque D’Souza - parish priest of Mount Rosary Church, Walter Nandalike – entrepreneur and founder of Daijiworld media, Nivin Antony –president of ICYM Karnataka region, Anson Nazareth - YCS national president, Fr Ronson D’Souza - Udupi deanery ICYM director and Luke D’Souza - vice president of Mount Rosary Parish Council who graced the occasion as the esteemed guests of honour.
Ashley D’Souza - ICYM diocesan president verbally welcomed all the esteemed guests to the youth convention and extended a graceful welcome to the deanery directors, the diocesan priests and all the diocesan youth gathered. Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves inaugurated ‘Bloom 2023’ symbolically by unveiling a hand-made craft flower. Fr Roque D’Souza addressed the gathering appreciated the meticulous and fine preparations of the ICYM central council and wished success to the Programme. Nivin Antony was delighted to see the huge gathering of the Youth. He congratulated the youth for their interest and urged the youth to actively participate in every activity the diocese organizes for their well-being. Msgr Ferdinand in his presidential speech compared the acronym BLOOM to the life of the youth invited the youth to ‘blossom’, to ‘learn’, to be ‘optimistic’, to make use of the ‘opportunity’ and to make ‘merry’. He also gave a clarion call to be great leaders, to be courageous and to aim higher in life. Prithesh Pinto proposed the vote of thanks to the respected guests of honour, to the generous sponsors and well-wishers.
The morning study session began with the first talk by Walter Nandalike on the topic ‘Field of Politics and Media’ thereby shedding light on the contemporary concerns and motivated the youth to empower the Christian community by an unbiased use of media. He further asked the youth to embrace motivating friends and positivity in life.
“Our community needs a special power. We have been led well by our religious leaders and hence we are lucky. But somewhere we have been lacking. We do not have a special power on hand. Power means leadership to rescue our community in certain difficulties, and leadership to empower our youth and make them soldiers of the community through various professions. The current crop of youth should think about it. Parents should encourage them to take on this type of leadership. Along with parents, the entire community should take this responsibility,” he said.
Fr Joachim OFM Cap spoke on ‘The Role of Youth in a Changing Indian Situations’.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr Ronson D’Souza, ICYM Udupi deanery director along with Fr Alphonsus D’Lima and Fr Steven Fernandes. Soon after the Mass, lots for the deanery wise cultural competitions were taken and soon after this, delicious lunch was served to all.
The exuberant inter-deanery cultural competitions commenced with the high-spirited contestants ready to give a thrilling performance. ThejJudges of the BLOOM cultural evening Fr Robin Santhumayor - the assistant priest at Milagres Church, Sapna Saldhana - a renowned multifaceted artiste of the Konkani Catholic community and Ashwin D’Costa – a celebrated singer and a distinguished composer were welcomed and introduced to the gathering. All the five deaneries presented their energetic performances in the singing, fancy dress and group dance category as per the slots to their utmost potential. A splendid sight and a real joy it proved to watch the cut-throat contest among the five deaneries for the coveted BLOOM 2023 trophy.
The concluding ceremony of the youth convention – BLOOM 2023 was presided over by Fr Valerian Mendonca – the dean of the Kallianpur deanery. Shwetha Rasquinha – HOD of social work at St Aloysius College, Fr Robin Santhumayor, Priya Furtado – youth commission coordinator of Udupi diocese, Ashwin D’Costa and Sapna Saldhana were the chief guests of the closing ceremony. Shiny Alva welcomed the guests of honour, the judges and the special invitees, the priest director of various deaneries and the gathered.
Shwetha Rasquinha in her speech highlighted the various opportunities provided by ICYM as a real heritage for one’s future life. She also stressed the skills and knowledge that is needed in life is given on a platter by these youth movements. Fr Steven Fernandes read out the results of the online competitions held unit-wise as a part of the Bloom 2023 namely reels competition, poetry recital and stand-up comedy.
Reels competition
First prize – Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur
Second prize - St Dominic Church, Miyar
Third prize – Christ King Church, Karkala Town
Poetry recital
First prize – Reeshal Lobo, Byndoor
Second prize – Ancita D’Souza, Moodubelle
Third prize – Melissa Cutinha, Mt Rosary Church
Stand-up comedy
Divya Pinto, Shirva
Singing competition
First prize – Kallianpur deanery
Second prize – Udupi deanery
Third prize – Karkala deanery
Fashion show
First prize – Karkala deanery
Second prize – Udupi deanery
Third prize – Kallianpur deanery
Dance competition
First prize – Kallianpur deanery
Second prize – Udupi deanery
Third prize – Karkala deanery
The overall championship of BLOOM 2023 was bagged by Kallianpur deanery and Udupi deanery emerged as the runner-up.
The five deanery ICYM directors Fr Sunil D’Silva - Kallianpur deanery, Fr Ronson D’Souza - Udupi deanery, Fr Arnold Mathias - Shirva deanery, Fr Ashwin Aranha - Kundapura deanery, Fr Larry Pinto - Karkala deanery were felicitated and given a token of appreciation during the programmes for their support and loving services to the Youth. The donors were thanked for their financial help towards the organization of this convention. Fr Valerian Mendonca encouraged the youth to Bloom and spread the fragrance in one’s own place and congratulated the entire team headed by Fr Steven Fernandes. The concluding ceremony was compered by Godwin Mascarenhas.
Around 44 parishes comprising of 450 ICYM members were a part of the convention in their respective deaneries. An enthralling event was brought to an end with more vibrant dance and breath-taking moves in the venue hall aftermath the convention.