A recent gathering for Catholic youth leaders in southern Laos proved to be a great morale booster for them, said participants.

Meeting with youths from different areas has been a “joy,” said Sinnakhon, 20, who described her faith life as “like a dry tree.”

Sinnakhon, from Tatheng Terng, was speaking on the sidelines of the Sept. 18 meeting at the Catholic Center in Pakse.

The meeting aimed to help the 30 participants from parishes and rural Catholic communities in Pakse apostolic vicariate share their lives and exchange experiences.

Three facilitators, including a priest, conducted the meeting for the young people, aged 18-30.

“It is not easy for me to share what’s inside me,” said Tingdavanh, 18, from Oudomsouk. “So this gathering was a good experience as it helped me to be more open.”

A young woman from Namsai said she feels pained when people of other religions misunderstand the Catholic faith.

“I really think there is a need for pastoral care and accompaniment for young Catholics here, to help them to be firm in their faith,” she said.

She also stressed the need for more young men to become priests and take leadership in the local Church.

Pakse apostolic vicariate, one of four in the communist country, has only three priests and one bishop serving around 15,000 Catholics.

One observer at the gathering, Thongsavath, 35, said he felt the youths’ sharings show that their faith is alive despite the challenges they face and their isolation from one another.

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