Media Release
Hyderabad, Oct 20: Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) under the banner of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) organized the second national conference at CHAI Training Centre Medchal, here from October 11 to 17. 425 delegates from all over the country attended this conference to discuss strategies to effectively serve the youth of India.
Archbishop of Hyderabad Thumma Bala, celebrated the inaugural mass and inaugurated the conference in the presence of many youth directors and animators. During the conference, there were workshops on various topics concerning young people and group work on the recent exhortation, ‘çhristusvivit’ by Pope Francis. Secretary-General of CCBI Fr Anil Couto, Bishop of Kurnool, Dr Anthony Poola and deputy secretary-general of the bishops conference, Fr Stephen Alathara addressed the young people on different days.
Director of the CHAI, Fr Mathew Abraham delivered the keynote address. The conference focused on various study sessions, group discussions, panel discussions where young people shared their dreams, aspirations and expectations from the church and society. An effective action plan was prepared to minister the youth effectively.
The young people in the church are actively involved in social issues like the environment, poverty, addictions, youth unrest, communalism etc. The National Youth Conference is one such programme where a lot of issues are discussed every year and deliberations are made. This conference will help the youth leaders and the youth directors in India to be effective in creating a better society where there is righteousness, justice, peace and harmony.
Before the conference young people were sent to families to have cultural exchange in and around Hyderabad from October 11 and 12 and the conference began on October 13.
The event concluded with the national young achievers' award ceremony, conferred by ICYM, part of the conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) who recognize young national achievers who have made a change in their lives and society. These young people have achieved a lot in the fields of politics, sports, healthcare etc.
Archdiocese of Hyderabad hosted this conference and welcomed the delegates to Telangana.