by Brother Joyston Machado
Pune, Dec 10, 2018: Over 200 Catholic youth, aspirants, sisters, and brothers from in and around Pune, Chichwad, Lonavla, and Karjat gathered in Sacred Heart Parish, Pune for Symbios 2018 on December 9.
Symbios is a Salesian Youth Movement which connects youth from the north, south, east, and west. The event was planned and came to fruition in coordination with ICYM, Pune diocese youth movement.
The day was planned with a range of activities and a platform for interaction for the youth. On arrival, the youth were welcomed by a group of brothers who helped them with registration and a fulfilling breakfast.
The event began at 9:15 am with a flash mob dance led by the brothers of Theology along with the youth, encouraging all to mix around and mingle. The Rector of Sacred Parish, Father Michael Bansode welcomed the youth after which a prayer service highlighting the presence of God was led by the youth.
Father Stanley Fernandes, the Director of ICYM Pune, Father Michael Bansode, Father Ajay D’monte, Father Richard D’Silva, Father Jesu Robinson, and Father Johnson Kshirsagar lit the lamp and invoked God’s blessing. Elaborating on each aspect of the theme for Symbios, special persons and resource personnel were invited for the youth.
To start their session, a team of family members titled SHY group belonging to the Sacred Heart Parish shared their views on Youth and Family. The wisdom of real family life through group discussion with members of the group brought a lot of richness to this session.
One of the aspirants from Lonavla, Venus James remarked about the session on family saying, “I learnt that family is very important, without family what would be my life. I learnt that the most important thing is to give my parents a big hug and tell them how much I love them.”
A brief break and moments of interaction followed the session, after which the youth reassembled to listen and learn about the second aspect of the theme on Media and the Young. Father Lester with the help of a few youngsters from the two parishes of the dioceses conducted the session through a lively debate. The youth presented their issues on the boon and the bane of the media after which the general audience was asked to question, and choose for themselves whether they wish to stand on the side of media or against it.
Sister Manisha Parmar from the Assumption sisters, said, “The session was very helpful and enriching. It has enlightened many of us nuns who really are unaware of the media. The debate was thought-provoking and it helped me to be responsible with great freedom.”
The brothers from the Theologate organised lively and enthusiastic games by dividing the youth into 20 teams, electing a captain and enabling them through the help of fixtures and rotation to have a taste of 10 creative and exciting games.
The group was then led into the hall for the third aspect of the theme on Youth and the Church. Father Allwyn Misquitta in his multi-lingual style began his session by leading the youngsters into prayer, praise, and worship. The need of the young person and the call of the Church to be awakened leaders in the Church was his main subject.
Amalu Alex, a youth representative from Carmel parish said, “The session on the Church was very truthful and relevant, it spoke a lot about our life and our relationship with the Church. I was also privileged to attend Father Allwyn’s earlier inner healing services and this personal encounter with him, in reality, was great, but attending this was really amazing and spiritual.”
The peacefulness and deep thoughts about the reality of life and Church was immediately followed with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration. Father Savio Silveria, the Chief Guest celebrated Holy Mass and invited the youth to become the prophets of the 21st century.
Following Holy Mass, Father Kshirsagar expressed the vote of thanks with a deep sense of gratitude to each and every individual who led the planning and who worked together in the execution of Symbios 2018.
Sherin Raj, the President of the youth at Sacred Heart parish, expressed her experience of the day saying, “Through the three features of the theme on Church, Family and Media I came to know that how we as youth have an important role to play in all these three aspects of our life; there were fun and games too which made the whole day enjoyable, spiritual and an overall good experience.”
Pune, Dec 10, 2018: Over 200 Catholic youth, aspirants, sisters, and brothers from in and around Pune, Chichwad, Lonavla, and Karjat gathered in Sacred Heart Parish, Pune for Symbios 2018 on December 9.
Symbios is a Salesian Youth Movement which connects youth from the north, south, east, and west. The event was planned and came to fruition in coordination with ICYM, Pune diocese youth movement.
The day was planned with a range of activities and a platform for interaction for the youth. On arrival, the youth were welcomed by a group of brothers who helped them with registration and a fulfilling breakfast.
The event began at 9:15 am with a flash mob dance led by the brothers of Theology along with the youth, encouraging all to mix around and mingle. The Rector of Sacred Parish, Father Michael Bansode welcomed the youth after which a prayer service highlighting the presence of God was led by the youth.
Father Stanley Fernandes, the Director of ICYM Pune, Father Michael Bansode, Father Ajay D’monte, Father Richard D’Silva, Father Jesu Robinson, and Father Johnson Kshirsagar lit the lamp and invoked God’s blessing. Elaborating on each aspect of the theme for Symbios, special persons and resource personnel were invited for the youth.
To start their session, a team of family members titled SHY group belonging to the Sacred Heart Parish shared their views on Youth and Family. The wisdom of real family life through group discussion with members of the group brought a lot of richness to this session.One of the aspirants from Lonavla, Venus James remarked about the session on family saying, “I learnt that family is very important, without family what would be my life. I learnt that the most important thing is to give my parents a big hug and tell them how much I love them.”
A brief break and moments of interaction followed the session, after which the youth reassembled to listen and learn about the second aspect of the theme on Media and the Young. Father Lester with the help of a few youngsters from the two parishes of the dioceses conducted the session through a lively debate. The youth presented their issues on the boon and the bane of the media after which the general audience was asked to question, and choose for themselves whether they wish to stand on the side of media or against it.
Sister Manisha Parmar from the Assumption sisters, said, “The session was very helpful and enriching. It has enlightened many of us nuns who really are unaware of the media. The debate was thought-provoking and it helped me to be responsible with great freedom.”
The brothers from the Theologate organised lively and enthusiastic games by dividing the youth into 20 teams, electing a captain and enabling them through the help of fixtures and rotation to have a taste of 10 creative and exciting games.
The group was then led into the hall for the third aspect of the theme on Youth and the Church. Father Allwyn Misquitta in his multi-lingual style began his session by leading the youngsters into prayer, praise, and worship. The need of the young person and the call of the Church to be awakened leaders in the Church was his main subject.
Amalu Alex, a youth representative from Carmel parish said, “The session on the Church was very truthful and relevant, it spoke a lot about our life and our relationship with the Church. I was also privileged to attend Father Allwyn’s earlier inner healing services and this personal encounter with him, in reality, was great, but attending this was really amazing and spiritual.”
The peacefulness and deep thoughts about the reality of life and Church was immediately followed with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration. Father Savio Silveria, the Chief Guest celebrated Holy Mass and invited the youth to become the prophets of the 21st century.
Following Holy Mass, Father Kshirsagar expressed the vote of thanks with a deep sense of gratitude to each and every individual who led the planning and who worked together in the execution of Symbios 2018.
Sherin Raj, the President of the youth at Sacred Heart parish, expressed her experience of the day saying, “Through the three features of the theme on Church, Family and Media I came to know that how we as youth have an important role to play in all these three aspects of our life; there were fun and games too which made the whole day enjoyable, spiritual and an overall good experience.”