by Chris Valentino
DAKOR, JAN 21, 2019: The Salesians of Don Bosco at Kapadvanj and Dakor organised the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) Youth Unity Fiesta / Yuva Ekta Mahotsav for the Diocese of Ahmedabad, in association with the Indian Catholic Youth Movement Ahmedabad (ICYM) and the All Gujarat Students’ Development Movement (AGSDM) at the Don Bosco Dakor Educational Complex on January 19 and 20. A total of 145 young adults participated at this festive extravaganza with the theme, ‘Holiness Means… Love of Self and Love of Neighbour’.
The festive proceedings began with registrations and a short inaugural prayer service on January 19, with the release of the balloon rosary, followed by a session of ice-breakers. After the initial mixers, the participants were animated in different groups by social activists, human rights personalities, and critical thinkers on various topics. Some of the topics under consideration were: discernment on the importance and participation in a democratic process, my rights-my choice, participation in good governance as an informed citizen.
The youth discussed the present socio-political situation in India, the climate of growing polarisation, and the inability of young leaders to emerge with a clear purpose and vision. As a consequence of the discussion, the youth were guided to reflect critically on their own personal integral development and to become aware of their responsibility to transform the Church and society by taking up leadership roles for a better India.
Father Mayank Parmar sdb, Director of DRISTI Don Bosco Kapadvanj, said, “This Youth Unity Fiesta was conceived as a platform to enable our youngsters to be able to intervene at the right time with the right purpose and intention to transform themselves and thereby enable the betterment of the Church and society.”
Father Irwin Lasrado sj, Director of the AGSDM, said, “This is a wonderful initiative for the youth of Ahmedabad to ask critical questions, understand the prevalent situation, and commit themselves to a long-term action plan that will effect change in Indian society.”
The youth reflected on the beliefs, experiences, roles, skills, and duties of the elected representatives from the local bodies till the parliamentary body. The youth were motivated to start from the panchayat to reach the parliament as responsible citizens. Eminent personalities from the social and human rights areas interacted with the participants enabling them to be aware and be proactive. Among them, Hasmukh Christian, Ratilal Jadhav, Kirit Mahida, Shobna, Shashikant, Anand Mazegaonkar, along with the Salesian Fathers, FMA nuns, Jesuit fathers, and the Diocesan fathers animated and enlightened the youth.
“This is a triveni sangam and together we have to enrich, encourage and motivate ourselves to be more responsible citizens who will participate dutifully to foster good governance in order to transform our Church and society,” Diocesan Youth Director, Father Vikram Mahida said.
Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar celebrated the Holy Eucharist and invited the youth to come together for the common good, doing away with all differences, and uniting for a common cause to acknowledge the zeal for a better society that believes in loving oneself and reaching out in love to others. “I congratulate and appreciate this venture for the foresight and wisdom with which it is organised to inspire and motivate our youth,” Archbishop Macwan said.
The two-day fiesta also included tele-games, garba, orchestra, action-songs, and creative displays of collage and rangoli on the theme of participation in the public political sphere.
“I sincerely hope that with our encouragement and accompaniment, the youth of this diocese will be able to reach that holiness which is possible for all of us in our daily lives. This is what I wish and pray for,” Father Bastin Thomas, Rector of Don Bosco Dakor said. “This is a great occasion to see so many enthusiastic youths willing to commit for the betterment of society,” FMA nun, Sister Hilda Braganza, Superior of Pushpanjali Dakor said.
“What we have begun here, we will continue and we hope to bring out our next issue of the Jyot on this specific theme,” Ripal Dabhi, Editor of Jyot said. “We can only go forward from here, together,” Vijay Parmar of the SYM said.
This first-ever collaborative venture ended with the youth committing themselves to a concrete action plan, pledging to meet again to position themselves as responsible citizens and probable leaders within the church and for India.
DAKOR, JAN 21, 2019: The Salesians of Don Bosco at Kapadvanj and Dakor organised the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) Youth Unity Fiesta / Yuva Ekta Mahotsav for the Diocese of Ahmedabad, in association with the Indian Catholic Youth Movement Ahmedabad (ICYM) and the All Gujarat Students’ Development Movement (AGSDM) at the Don Bosco Dakor Educational Complex on January 19 and 20. A total of 145 young adults participated at this festive extravaganza with the theme, ‘Holiness Means… Love of Self and Love of Neighbour’.The festive proceedings began with registrations and a short inaugural prayer service on January 19, with the release of the balloon rosary, followed by a session of ice-breakers. After the initial mixers, the participants were animated in different groups by social activists, human rights personalities, and critical thinkers on various topics. Some of the topics under consideration were: discernment on the importance and participation in a democratic process, my rights-my choice, participation in good governance as an informed citizen.
The youth discussed the present socio-political situation in India, the climate of growing polarisation, and the inability of young leaders to emerge with a clear purpose and vision. As a consequence of the discussion, the youth were guided to reflect critically on their own personal integral development and to become aware of their responsibility to transform the Church and society by taking up leadership roles for a better India.
Father Mayank Parmar sdb, Director of DRISTI Don Bosco Kapadvanj, said, “This Youth Unity Fiesta was conceived as a platform to enable our youngsters to be able to intervene at the right time with the right purpose and intention to transform themselves and thereby enable the betterment of the Church and society.”
Father Irwin Lasrado sj, Director of the AGSDM, said, “This is a wonderful initiative for the youth of Ahmedabad to ask critical questions, understand the prevalent situation, and commit themselves to a long-term action plan that will effect change in Indian society.”
The youth reflected on the beliefs, experiences, roles, skills, and duties of the elected representatives from the local bodies till the parliamentary body. The youth were motivated to start from the panchayat to reach the parliament as responsible citizens. Eminent personalities from the social and human rights areas interacted with the participants enabling them to be aware and be proactive. Among them, Hasmukh Christian, Ratilal Jadhav, Kirit Mahida, Shobna, Shashikant, Anand Mazegaonkar, along with the Salesian Fathers, FMA nuns, Jesuit fathers, and the Diocesan fathers animated and enlightened the youth.
“This is a triveni sangam and together we have to enrich, encourage and motivate ourselves to be more responsible citizens who will participate dutifully to foster good governance in order to transform our Church and society,” Diocesan Youth Director, Father Vikram Mahida said.Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar celebrated the Holy Eucharist and invited the youth to come together for the common good, doing away with all differences, and uniting for a common cause to acknowledge the zeal for a better society that believes in loving oneself and reaching out in love to others. “I congratulate and appreciate this venture for the foresight and wisdom with which it is organised to inspire and motivate our youth,” Archbishop Macwan said.
The two-day fiesta also included tele-games, garba, orchestra, action-songs, and creative displays of collage and rangoli on the theme of participation in the public political sphere.
“I sincerely hope that with our encouragement and accompaniment, the youth of this diocese will be able to reach that holiness which is possible for all of us in our daily lives. This is what I wish and pray for,” Father Bastin Thomas, Rector of Don Bosco Dakor said. “This is a great occasion to see so many enthusiastic youths willing to commit for the betterment of society,” FMA nun, Sister Hilda Braganza, Superior of Pushpanjali Dakor said.
“What we have begun here, we will continue and we hope to bring out our next issue of the Jyot on this specific theme,” Ripal Dabhi, Editor of Jyot said. “We can only go forward from here, together,” Vijay Parmar of the SYM said.This first-ever collaborative venture ended with the youth committing themselves to a concrete action plan, pledging to meet again to position themselves as responsible citizens and probable leaders within the church and for India.