By Felix Anthony

Guwahati, May 2, 2022: The fifth National Catholic Youth Conference will be held in North East Region in October 2023.

The decision was made at the end of the fourth conference held April 26-May 1 at Nadiad, Gujarat, western India.

Regional youth director Fransalian Father John Barman received the hosting flag at the closing ceremony. He was accompanied by Magdalene Anal, the regional president of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement and general secretary Alan Rinawma.

Expressing happiness over the national conference coming to the northeast, Bishop George Pallipparambil, the chairman of the youth commission of the region’s bishop, said the event would greatly benefit the region’s young people.

The fourth national event, held after the pandemic, witnessed the participation of more than 450 youth leaders from the 14 regions of the country. The North East Region was represented by 56 delegates from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Father Barman led the delegation.

The five-day event had nine group sessions in which participants shared their experiences, views and opinions on the theme ‘Youth for a Synodal Church.’ They deliberated in depth at the workshops based on topics.

During the conference, the delegates presented their cultures through music, art and dance. The North East Region’s performance was a dance show consisting of the cultures of six states.

Two youth from the region, Napoleon Rongmei of Imphal diocese, Manipur, and Shimtidaris Marbaniang of Nongstoin diocese, Meghalaya, received National Youth Awards for their outstanding contribution towards the youth ministry in the region. Antony Lalremdika, Aizawl diocese, Mizoram, was elected the Joint Secretary of ICYM.

The venue for the next conference is yet to be finalized. However, it has excited the region’s youth.

“It will be a learning experience for us to host the youth from all over the country in our region as it will give us opportunity to know about the diverse cultures of the country and also to showcase the rich cultures of our region” says Becaremeo Nongtdu from Meghalya.

The conference is returning to the northeast after 12 year. The last conference was held in 2010 at Shillong, capital of Meghalaya.