Media Release

Bengaluru, Jan 24: The archdiocese and youth coordinators of 7 urban deaneries got together on Sunday January 24 at Yuva Chethana the youth commission center of the archdiocese of Bengaluru to prepare a plan of action in taking forward the youth pastoral plan and making the youth ministry active and vibrant.

Fr Sandeep CSSR, the director of Redemptorist Youth Ministry was the special guest for the gathering. In his intervention, he exhorted the youth coordinators to be disciples of Christ and to be committed to Him in serving the people entrusted to their care.

Arun Mascarenhas, HR professional in Bengaluru shared his experience of being part of ICYM (Indian Catholic Youth Movement) and the opportunity it provides for personal growth and leadership. Fr Anil D’Sa SDB, the youth director of the archdiocese animated the meeting giving a glimpse of the youth ministry in the archdiocese and the possibility of reviving the youth ministry in the post-pandemic situation.

The youth coordinators shared their experience of the pandemic and their involvement in reaching out to people in need in this crisis situation. They voiced their opinion on the need to organie themselves as a strong youth network under the banner of ICYM (Indian Catholic Youth Movement) so as to be effective in serving society in times of crisis. They felt that their voice and achievements need to be made visible through print media. Thus it was decided to revive 'Youth Voice', a youth magazine of the youth commission of the archdiocese started in 1997. Nihar Fernandes from St Patrick’s Church volunteered to be in-charge of the magazine and to be its editor.

The youth coordinators unanimously agreed to revitalize the youth groups in their respective deaneries and extend their full cooperation to the archdiocesan youth ministry team in realizing its goal of purposeful and vibrant youth ministry in the archdiocese.