By C V Joseph
Chennai, Feb 5, 2020: More than 300 young people from several states in India pledged to work for peace in society at a three-day program in Chennai.
“We, the Franciscan youth, pledge that we shall be instruments of peace in our families, parishes and the society,” stated a resolution adopted at the January 31-February 2 Franciscan Youth Meet (FRAYME) 2020.
The Youth Meet was held at St. Sebastian’s Parish, Madhavaram, Chennai.
The Capuchins’ Secretariat for Evangelization and Mission has brought together young people from Franciscan parishes in India to teach them the Franciscan values and motivate them to participate in the life of the parish, said Capuchin Father John Sekar, who is part of the team to take care of the youth.
Youth from Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, mingled with Franciscan trainees from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to experience the joy of Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Father Sekar added.
In his keynote address, Father Praveen D’Souza referred to ‘Christus Vivit’ (Christ Lives) of Pope Francis to urge the youth to experience God’s personal love for each one, to discern and trust in God’s plan for one’s life and to be always ‘online’ with God, and never to give up.
The event began with the youth of the host parish leading the procession of the Franciscan San Damiano Cross followed by veneration.
About 16 different groups of Franciscan parish youth and young Franciscans introduced themselves to the gathering in a creative manner highlighting the activities of their parishes and the culture of the state.
Gathered for the Eucharist in the newly constructed St. Sebastian’s Church, the youth sang hymns in their languages. Father Charles Bernard, in his homily, urged the youth to pray, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”.
The participants took out a 3-km peace march with lighted candles, holding placards calling for peace and singing the hymns of being instruments of peace in different languages.
On February 2, Father Vincent Chinnadurai, the episcopal vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Chennai, expressed happiness for FRAYME 2020. He said the archdiocese has declared 2020 as the year of youth.
Father Kasi Rayappa, an eco-activist from the diocese of Vellore, spoke to the youth about the increasing need for eco-care, a major concern of St. Francis and the Franciscans worldwide. He appealed to the youth that becoming instruments of peace was not possible without sufficient care and activism towards the environment.