By Louis Menezes
Mumbai, March 14, 2022: Around 200 young people of a Mumbai parish sang, danced and prayed for a week as part of their efforts to grow deeper in the Catholic faith.
The youth who normally keep away from the Church surprised their parents with their “lively and active participation in the program,” says Father Ivel Mendanha, provincial of the Redemptorists’ Majella V province in Mumbai,
“Our Young people are eager to follow the Lord, they just need to be drawn to a new way of experiencing and celebrating Jesus,” the Redemptorist priest told Matters India March 15.
The Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry of the province organized the March 11-15 Lenten Youth Mission for the youngsters of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor Church in Mumbai’s Chembur.
The program proved “an overwhelming experience for each of them. They also prayed daily for the people of Ukraine,” he added.
The “Let’s Hang Out” program comprised daily youth Mass and Adoration, besides singing and dancing.
The youngsters showed “their eagerness to grow in their faith in Jesus” and expressed “their commitment to serve the Church’s Mission today,” the provincial added.
Father Mendanha also pointed out that the entire program was handled by the participants.
The youth band comprising singers and musicians practiced for more than a month. The youth dance troupe led the participants to praise God through dance. The youth also handled the advertisement and promotion and house visits. They also designed selfie points.
The program also includes talks on various topics confronting modern youth.
The talks were followed by activities and writing down their experiences. Each participant then came forward to stick on a cross what they had written.
The organizers said they were edified to watch participants rushing from tuitions or work daily to attend the program with a deep desire to hang out with Jesus.
On the last day, some participants vowed to use their talents and blessings to serve the Church, after realizing they are the Church now.
Leanne Pinto, a participant, found the mission “truly rejuvenating and beyond my expectations.” He told Matters India that the talks were “extremely informative, and the topics were explained in depth and with a lot of substance. The Adoration was a very touching experience.”
Nisha D’Silva, a schoolteacher, too found the Adoration mesmerizing and “enthralling experience” that helped her learn “to come closer to our loving God in various ways.” —