By Saurav Kullu
Kolkata, Feb 10, 2020: Jyotsna D’Souza from Vasai, Maharashtra, will lead the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) for the next two years.
The 20-year-old final year student of Bachelor of Accounting and Finance at Mumbai’s Wilson College is the second woman to lead the youth wing of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, the national body of the Latin rite bishops. Earlier, Olima Minj from Chhattisgarh led the movement during 2012-2014.
D’Souza and other officials of the ICYM national executive committee were elected on February 9 during the movement’s annual meeting a Kolkata’s Seva Kendra, the social service arm of the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
The gathering of 62 delegates representing 12 regions across India was chaired by Bishop Soosai Nazarene of Kottar, chairman of CCBI National Youth Commission. Father Chetan Machado of the Archdiocese of Delhi, the commission’s executive secretary, was also present at the meeting.
The meeting elected eight office bearers along with 16 other Executive Committee members. They will hold office during 2020-2022.
“I’m humbled by the trust bestowed on me. I feel really fortunate to help out in the youth ministry of the country,” D’Souza told Matters India on February 10. She succeeds Percival Holt of Delhi as the ICYM national president.
The meeting elected Antony Judy from Kerala as the general secretary, Hittary Rebecca from Imphal as treasurer, Saurav Kullu from Chandigarh as media secretary, Anto Arokiya Niveda from Madhya Pradesh as liturgy secretary, Stella Harry from Kolkata as joint secretary, Jalendra Singh from Odisha as vice president, Kasu from Andhra Pradesh as newsletter editor.
The 24-member team will lead India’s Catholic youth movement executing plans and programs for young people to serve the Church and society.
“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things. In this land of Kolkata, these words by Saint Mother Teresa inspire me as I take up this responsibility,” D’Souza told her team after the election.
To young Catholics in the country, she said, “Let us continue on our path to reaching each and every youth of the country. We shall hold hands and build a better world.”
Bishop Nazarene elaborated on the eight objectives of youth ministry and emphasized the type of youth ministry required today.
He highlighted the importance of being agents of change and renewal in society and boosted the gathering to take up the challenge and march forward.
Father Machado, national youth director, reminded the young leaders of their responsibilities and the call to servant leadership keeping in mind 3 Ds—Dedication, Determination and Discipline.
He thanked the outgoing national team, all the Regional Youth Directors and the youth leaders who have journeyed along to make this movement rise and shine.
The national election of ICYM was preceded by the national council meeting of the movement for two days.
Holt, the outgoing president chaired the meeting.
Holt thanked the movement for the support his team received in the past two years and motivated the new leaders to take up the movement forward to the next level.
The three-day meeting discussed challenges and prospective to a vision and mission for the Catholic youth of India.