RSSThe Episcopal Commission for Youth (ECY) has hosted the country´s largest annual gathering of young Catholics, designed to strengthen their faith and give them support as they face the pressures of life.
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Tribal Garo girls perform a dance |
“The Church has confidence in the power of youths and wants to help them to stay close to each other to overcome challenges,” ECY chairman Holy Cross Bishop Moses M. Costa of Dinajpur told the gathering.
“Consider this national gathering as a pilgrimage of renewal, a time to be hopeful and find the motivation to serve society, the country and the Church.”
The 24th National Youth Day 2009 was held at St. Elizabeth Parish, Biroidakuni, in the northeastern Mymensingh diocese, from Nov. 5 to 9. It took Pope Benedict XI´s theme for World Youth Day this year: “We have set our hope on the living God.” (1 Tim 4:10).
About 300 Catholic youths attended from the country´s six dioceses. They included members of the majority Bengali community as well as tribal Santal, Oraon, Garo, Paharia, and Tripura youths.
The participants said the discussions with bishops, priests and nuns helped them gain the confidence to overcome their challenges, including such issues as education, employment, financial instability and problems in finding a suitable marriage partner.
For some, such as Dipali Tudu, 22, it was a chance to mix with other Christian young people, which she is unable to do in her home town.
“I live in a place where my family is the only Christian family and I´m the only Christian student in my educational institution,” said Tudu, a Santal Catholic, who is studying for a diploma in textile engineering.
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Bishop Moses M. Costa of Dinajpur blesses |
“In the past it was difficult for me to find Christian friends,” she said. “When I decided to apply for higher education, my relatives strongly opposed it,” warning her that she would face a non-Christian environment.
Another participant, Jony Thomas Pereira, 21, said that a major challenge facing young Christians is the lack of higher education and employment opportunities in non-Christian institutions.
“This year I was forced to scrap my plans to be admitted into a college in Dhaka for an honors course as a politician asked for a bribe from me,” said Pereira.
The recent national youth day program included worship as well as group discussions on how to overcome life´s challenges. There were also traditional songs, dance, drama and poetry recitations.
ECY office secretary, Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Christina Murmu, told UCA News that her organization supports youths by organizing about 22 programs each year for them.
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