ICYM-M’luru Diocese All Geared Up for 70th Year Celebrations
Indian Catholic Youth Movement of Mangaluru Diocese to hold its 70th year celebrations at St Anthony’s Ashram
Mangaluru: The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) of Mangaluru Diocese is geared up to celebrate its 70th year celebrations on April 23rd 2017 at St Antony Ashram, Jeppu. The celebration will begin with a thanksgiving mass at 3:30 pm with Most Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese as the main celebrant.
The mass will be followed by a cultural program based on various objectives of ICYM. Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu – Vicar General Mangalore Diocese, Fr Onil D’Souza, Director of St Antony Ashram, Fr Deepak Thomas K J, National Youth Director, Fr Mari Joseph, Karnataka Regional Youth Director, Ivan D’Souza, Chief Whip of Karnataka Legislative Council, J R Lobo., MLA of Mangaluru South, Roy Castelino, Former President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Raymond D’Souza, Member of the National Monitoring Committee for Notified Minorities, Govt of India, Sijo Ambatt, President of ICYM National Council; M P Noronha – Secretary of Diocesan Pastoral Parishad; and Vipin Paul, President of ICYM Karnataka Region are other dignitaries will be participating in the programme.
About Indian Catholic Youth Movement:
The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) is the largest Premier Catholic Youth Movement in India under the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) that is spread across 686 districts in India. It functions in 14 Regions and 171 Dioceses and is an organization for the Catholic Youth from three rites (Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara) of Christian community across India. The patron saint of this Movement is St. Gonsalo Garcia.
In Mangaluru Diocese, ICYM started as the Catholic Youth Movement on 13th April 1947 in Bejai Parish and today it has been a premier youth organization of the Mangaluru Diocese and functions with 12 Deaneries and 108 units (parishes) affiliated to the ICYM Central Council.
With its motto – “To Lead, to Serve, to Shine”, ICYM strives for the integral development of youth through Formation, Fellowship and Action being the main objectives of youth ministry and also caters to varied needs of the holistic development of its young members.
In today’s modern world, the youth lack in true leadership, face problems like rising fundamentalism, choking unemployment, corruption, etc… at all levels of the society. It is in this distressful context that the ICYM addresses the need of these young persons and works at empowering them into action not only within the church but a conscious and deliberate immersion in the mainstream of secular life and activity in the heart of the world.
In it’s in the 70th year of existence of ICYM in Mangaluru Diocese, following are the various programs organized by ICYM Executive Council 2016-2017 so far:
Training to the office bearers:
A special motivational training program was held for the newly elected office bearers of different units and deaneries to elicit and develop their leadership abilities.
Live in Program for DEXCO:
A one day residential program for the Diocesan Executive Committee (DEXCO) and council members was held to enrich their soft skills and to gain necessary inputs on NYC 2017.
‘Clean and Green Mangaluru’:
A cleanliness drive and Vanamahothsava was held for 70 minutes in all the affiliated units simultaneously on 15th August 2016 to commemorate the 70th Independence Day and the 70th year of existence of ICYM in Mangalore Diocese. This was a unique program and first of its kind in the history of Mangaluru Diocese.
Efforts to obtain a holiday on September 8th:
A delegation of Executive members led by the Diocesan Youth Director Rev. Fr. Ronald D’souza met the Chief Minister of Karnataka to urge the declaration of a government holiday for the Nativity feast of Mary in Karnataka. A signature campaign was also held throughout the diocese for the cause and was submitted to the CM through various Tashildars together with memorandums.
Unit and Deanery Visits:
To motivate and encourage the youth towards NYC 2017, visits to the units and deaneries are held frequently every week by the Executive members lead by the Director Rev.Fr. Ronald D’souza.
Two Wheeler Rally for ‘Road Safety’:
To create awareness and to promote road safety a Two Wheeler Rally from Rosario Cathedral to Olivet House, Jeppu was held on 2nd October 2016. Also a tribute was given to the brave soldiers who died during the Uri attack.
Inauguration of the 70th Jubilee Year:
With a great grandeur the 70th Jubilee Year of ICYM Mangalore Diocese was symbolically inaugurated by unveiling the Jubilee logo on 2nd October 2016.
ICYM Blood Account:
ICYM blood bank accounts have been established in the three major hospitals of Mangaluru namely Father Muller Medical College Hospital, KMC Hospital and A.J Hospital with the aim of enabling the volunteer blood donors to reach out emergency needs of various patients irrespective of religion.
National Youth Convention (NYC):
The 10th National Youth Convention (NYC) was organized with the aim of uniting Youth leaders, Youth Directors and Animators from all over 171 dioceses of India. Around 5000 youth delegates participated in this convention mainly focusing on concepts like Youth Empowerment, Socio-Political Leadership, Media Advocacy and contribution to the National Integrity through workshops, group discussions, etc.
Submitted by Joel Concessao, PRO, ICYM-Mangaluru Diocese