Bellary Diocesan Year of Youth Inaugurated


BELLARY, JAN 01: New Year 2019 declared as the Diocesan Year of Youth was launched by Bishop Henry D'Souza at the Mid Night Mass of the New Year. The programme was held at the 205-year old Christ King Church, Bellary. The Bishop and representatives such as a priest, a religious, a parent, a teacher, a youth and a child watered a plant symbolizing that the entire community will be at the service of the youth during the Year of Youth. The theme of the year would be: Year of Youth - Caring for Our Common Home. Bishop Henry D'Souza urged all parish priests and heads of institutions to celebrate the year joyfully and enthusiastically by reaching out to all - in the families, wards, sub-stations, parishes, deaneries, diocese and the migrants. The Diocesan Youth Commission has drawn up a year plan, suggesting that the parish priests regularly meet every youth in the parish and know their problems / aspirations. Efforts are on to collect data of all the youth of 15 to 29 years by Jan. 31.

Every parish will have a youth association. Where there isn't one already, it should be formed by Feb. 28 and the office bearer's names along with their mobile numbers should be sent to the Bishop. Two youth will be identified to be contact persons and coordinators in each sub-station. The scheduled Mass on the fourth Sunday of the month would be celebrated with the youth preparing for it and actively participating. The Mass would be followed by a session of catechesis from YouCat. Parishes and deaneries will have their youth conventions. Diocesan resource persons would be available to conduct training in life-coping skills and gainful use of social media. Every effort would be made to the guide talented youth to join public service and become tomorrow's leaders in fields such as politics, civil administration, business, media and entertainment. Programmes such as Clean India, Green India, and Plastic Free India would be promoted.

Bishop urged all parish priests, the religious and lay faithful to willingly cooperate in implementing the plans of the Year of Youth for the benefit of our youth. Fr. Y.S. Peter, parish priest and Dean, led the inaugural programme, in the presence of the Diocesan Youth Director, Fr. Prem Kumar ofm and the youth of the parish. Let us together make the Year of Youth a success! Following the inauguration of the Year of Youth, the Bellary city youth planted saplings in the Bellary Arogya Mathe Shrine Church.