By Matters India Reporter

Aizawl, March 29, 2023: The first convention of school students from eight Catholic dioceses of northeastern India has resolved to make them advocates of peace-building in the region.

Some 350 delegates from these dioceses attended the regional convention at St. Lawrence School in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state, to address the theme “Young Students for Youthful Life” with the thrust self-identity, safe school and new society.

The March 17-20 convention of the Young Christian Students and Young Students Movement has also resolved to become responsible users of social media by spreading positive content and to learn more about the rights of young students and promote them in schools and society.

The students have promised to uphold and respect their dignity as well as others’, irrespective of age, caste, creed, religion and region.

The students have resolved to live the movement’s methodology – see, judge and act – and promote and practice its spirituality.

They said they would become responsible students rooted in faith and values and build a strong and healthy relationship with their family members, neighbors and companions in school.

They also resolved to acknowledge their mistakes and seek forgiveness and become humble and compassionate to one another and become a living role model to others.

A convention message issued to the press by Father Felix Anthony, public relations officer of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council, on March 28, said the convention through study sessions and group dynamics made the young people aware of their self-obsession and tendency to become carried away by the materialistic world that deprived them their original identity, self-respect, rights and dignity.

The young students are influenced and captured by the trends of individualism, violence, and are living a life of loneliness.

“In contrast, we believe that we have a unique role in building a youthful society with all our energy, talents and dynamism,” the message said.

The convention helped the students to realize that they are called to become youthful reflecting on the teachings of the Gospel and the Church. “We are called to become the burning flame that can light up others’ lives,” the message said.

Reflecting on the spirituality of the movement, they become empowered to become the co-creators of the new world. “Hence, believing in oneself is the first element to living a youthful life. We realized that our mission is to be the change and become an example to others through our thoughts, words and deeds,” the students asserted.