By Matters India Reporter

Mangalore: Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore on January 18 opened the tenth national convention of Youth in Mangalore, southern India.

More than 5,000 young Catholics from all over India are attending the convention is organized every three years by the Youth Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

The convention that ends on January 22 will address environment, harmony, leadership and peace in society.

Archbishop Moras urged the youth to throng churches to pray for their welfare. “They need to involve in activities and walk in the path of Jesus,” he added.

Archbishop Moras
Welcoming the participants, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore said his diocese has prepared for the convention for more than a year. He noted that young people from Mangaluru (formerly Mangalore) have proved to be energetic, talented and dynamic and now serve the work in various capacities. “The convention has come up with the powerful motto of preparing tomorrow’s leaders. A true leader is a performer, reformer and transformer,” he added.

The Mangalore bishop also noted that his diocese has produced 45 bishops for the Indian Church.

Bishop Henry D’Souza said the convention focuses on producing leaders who bring change, achieve and transform. Urging the participants to follow Jesus, the CBCI youth office chairman noted that youth have great capacity and talents to face challenges of modern world.

Grace Pinto, who delivered the keynote address, urged the young participants to become bold dreamers. “Always dream big, achieve big and speak big, then automatically positiveness will come and flow from your heart,” said the educationists of Ryan Group Institutions. She also urged the youth to respect their parents and not to discard them during old age. “They are the ones who supported, guided and carried you in their arms.”

Earlier, ICYM members from 12 different regions joined together to welcome the National Youth Conference Cross. The ICYM flag was unfurled and the ICYM anthem was sung in unison.

Bishops Lawerence Mukkuzhy of Belthangady and Alwyn Baretto of Sindadurgh also attended the opening ceremonies.

This is the 10th edition of the convention, and the first to be held in Karnataka, southern India.

The organizers expect at least 10,000 participants for the great march of peace that will close the convention.

The participants are youth leaders, directors of social programs and the animators from the 171 dioceses in India. Their theme this year is “Touched by Jesus; Walking on his way.”

CBCI president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Cardinal George Allencherry, and Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences are also expected at the meet.