By: Matters India Reporter

Hyderabad, October 11, 2019: More than 500 delegates are set to attend the second national youth conference of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) at CHAI Training Center, Secunderabad this week.

The October 13 – 17 event to give young people a chance to talk, share and express their thoughts and concerns and the church listens to, said Percival Holt, national youth president of ICYM.

The conference would also serve as an avenue to educate and impart knowledge to young people about faith and important matters in life, such as media, leadership, politics, history of Christian faith, vocation and many other topics in the form of workshops, he added.

ICYM is a branch of the National Youth Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

“I am the Servant of the Lord; May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38) is chosen as its theme.

It invites youth to understand their call in life and re-affirm their commitment to God and His will.

“The theme this year is chosen and the programme is curated in a way to help young people understand the post synod perspective of a joyful, youthful life and an attempt towards the implementation of the synod to grassroots youth. It will be based on the final document of the 2018 synod and Christus Vivit (Christ is alive),” said Holt.

Published on April 2, 2019, Christus Vivit is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, written in response to the Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on “Young people, faith and vocational discernment”, held from 3 to 28 October 2018. It is addressed “to young people and to the entire people of God.”

“At the end of the youth conference in Secunderabad, we will come out with a document that records the voice of youth and it will be shared with all the bishops of India. This would help them understand and use it while drawing their pastoral plan for the youth ahead,” Holt said.

The concurrent seasons will held on mental, emotional and psychological health, Christian traditions and beliefs, balancing life priorities as Catholic youth; feelings, body and sexuality; relationship with elders and family life, Christian ethics, Indian Constitution and citizens’ rights, politics and public leadership, care for earth, career, Eucharist, Bible and family prayer.

Radio Veritas Asia Telugu service is a media event partner, among others this year.

On October 17, ICYM will give away “the National Young Achievers Awards 2019” during the ICYM National Youth Conference.