JY-Newsletter

12 MISSION
rio
16 FullTime
Volunteers’
TRAINING
NEWSWATCH
22 GLOBAL
a missionary movement at the service of the church
december 2013
10 rexband
tour
RIO
WYD2013
A LIFE-CHANGING CELEBRATION OF CATHOLIC IDENTITY AND FAITH
After a long stormy night spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, hearing the
preaching of the Pope and fellowship, a sea of young Catholics from around the
world stood still in the abandoned airfield in Cuatro Vientos, Spain at the final Mass
celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI. Groups of young people waving their bright green and yellow
Brazilian flags cheered proudly as the Shepherd announced that the next World Youth Day would
take place on the shores of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the theme to be taken from the Gospel according
to St. Matthew “Go and make disciples of all nations”.
CONTD. ON PAGE 3
Heart Talk
As we reach the end of the present Jesus Youth International Team’s term, I am
writing this note with deep joy and gratitude; more so since I am writing this from
a tough mission field. It is beautiful to see the Spirit building and spreading the
movement through our young missionaries to the corners of the world, including
some of the world’s toughest mission lands. God-given commitment and missionary
zeal are the greatest strengths of the movement. A few months ago, I witnessed first
hand the passion of young JYs who took part in an outreach mission after the World
Youth Day in Rio. As the natives spoke only Portuguese, these JY friends ingeniously
learned a few sentences through a web translator and started speaking to people
about the love of Jesus. They prayed for everyone, even those selling drugs openly
on the streets. Such zeal and courage can be received only from God through prayer.
I am also touched by the commitment shown by two young JY women in this country
I am visiting. One of them, who has been here for the last one year, has learnt
the language and is doing fruitful work. When she arrived, she did not know the
language or know anyone to support her. Her trust in the Lord gave her the courage
to show this tremendous commitment. I thank the Lord for showering these special
graces on every Jesus Youth who is committed to His work in their unique ways.
And so it is in our life,
dear young friends:
if we want it to have
real meaning and
fulfilment, as you want
and as you deserve, I
say to each one of you,
“Put on faith”, and life
will take on a new
flavour, life will have
a compass to show
you the way; “put on
hope” and every one
of your days will be
enlightened and your
horizon will no longer
be dark, but luminous;
“put on love”, and your
life will be like a house
built on rock, your
journey will be joyful,
because you will
find many friends to
journey with you. Put
on faith, put on hope,
put on love!
HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS
DURING THE WYD
WELCOMING CEREMONY
RIO DE JANEIRO, 25 JULY 2013
Through my journey in the movement over the past 22 years, especially during the
last three years as a person most accountable to the Lord for it, I have been blessed
to see the beautiful face of JY through its members. Several Faith Conferences
were organised in different countries to celebrate the ‘Year of Faith’. Twelve such
Conferences were held in India and in one of these Conferences attended by
nearly 5000 participants, optional seminars were organised for different groups
like farmers, students, construction workers, entrepreneurs, fishermen, engineers,
doctors, nurses, lawyers, artists, housewives, drivers, etc. It was magnificent to meet
Jesus Youth members from so many different fields, yet living the same JY lifestyle,
being committed to the same cause and loving each other as one family.
I take this final opportunity to thank all the country co-ordinators and other leaders
who have nurtured the movement through their whole-hearted dedication. I have
witnessed the pain and difficulties they go through, amidst their responsibilities, jobs,
family priorities, etc. These leaders are the strength of the movement. I think I should
not miss mentioning two factors that have really helped in presenting the movement
to the world. The first one is ‘Rexband’ – the JY music outreach group, which has
performed in all the past five World Youth Days and has undertaken countless mission
tours in the 24 years since its beginning. All Rexband members take time off from
their respective careers to minister and do so voluntarily without any remuneration
whatsoever. I sincerely thank each one of them for their deep commitment.
The second factor is the “One-year Fulltime Volunteers’ Training Project”. Over the
last 22 years, we have been training young graduates for 30-40 days and have placed
them in different parts of the world for a year. I thank all Jesus Youth who have
taken this year-long commitment and their trainers as well.
The main focus over the last three years has been to prepare the entire movement
for the implementation of the newly evolving formation plan. Every country is ready
now and I thank the Lord for this precious gift of a new plan and also the leaders
in every country, senior leaders and other key people for their hard work and cooperation in developing these plans. I am happy to announce that we now have an
International Formation Team with Manoj Sunny as the Director.
I also thank the International Pastor - Fr. Bitaju Mathew, Assistant Co-ordinator Dony Peter, Mission Director - Siljo Thomas, the former International Co-ordinators,
all animators and other members of my team for their support, encouragement,
contributions, hard work and, constructive and timely corrections.
Requesting your prayers and support for the new JY International Team,
With love and prayers,
Raiju Varghese
Jesus Youth International Co-ordinator
Cover STORY
Contd. from page 1
RIO - WYD 2013
echoed “To be missionaries: Go forth!”
- the call to evangelisation, the reason
for the existence of the Church on earth.
The beauty of the Catechesis came not
only from the teaching but also from the
close encounter with the Bishops and the
witness of faith received from the other
pilgrims who also came to Brazil for the
same purpose.
As parishes and movements started brainstorming
fundraising activities and inviting previous
attendees and new participants to Rio, few
suspected that the pilgrims would be standing
before an Argentinian Pope with a warm smile
and a powerful challenge. The 3.5 million people
attending various WYD events in Brazil revealed
the responsiveness of youth to the love of two
great men, Pope Benedict XVI who announced the
event and Pope Francis who led the youth closer
to Jesus Christ through the words he spoke and
his actions.
It was nearly impossible to witness the
multitude of young people with bright
faces straining to see our Father in faith,
Pope Francis and not think of the wonder
of the Church built on the faith of the
Apostles whose “voice goes out through
all the earth and their words to the end
of the world”. The common gatherings
of the faithful took place along the 3.5
kilometers of white sand on the famous
Copacabana beach - including the opening
Mass presided by Archbishop Orani João
Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, Welcome
Ceremony with Pope Francis, the Way
of the Cross led by the Pope, the Vigil
and the Final Mass celebrated by Pope
Francis. Each of these events carried within
themselves the Gospel message which
answered the deepest questions of every
young heart.
Jithin George from Chicago, IL explained, “World
Youth Day 2013 made a significant impact in my
life as a Catholic. Sitting on Copacabana beach
with other Jesus Youth as Pope Francis challenged
me and my friends to get out into the streets and
live out my faith like Jesus did instead of sitting
in the balconies and watching life pass by remains
with me even now after several months and will
continue to shape my future”. The experience of
encountering Christ’s message and being changed
by it is central to the purpose of World Youth Day
and is evident in its many fruits such as how many
young people discover their calling to religious
life or an ardent Catholic life as the laity.
After thanking Brazil for its warm welcome
to his first apostolic visit which happened
to be back to Latin America, Pope Francis
spoke of the pull young persons feel to
Christ’s open arms as seen in the famous
Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de
Janeiro - “a hunger for a pure truth and an
authentic love which binds them together
in spite of differences”. He confirmed
Christ’s confidence in youth to carry out
the mission to “Go and make disciples”
and concluded with a call to build one
another up in love.
This transformation in the lives of young Catholics
is forged by lively Catechesis given at 267 centers
by Bishops from dioceses all around the world,
various events for all pilgrims and the preaching
of the Gospel by the successor of Peter himself.
The first day of Catechesis centered on the
theme “thirsting for hope, thirsting for God”
in which Bishops led young people through
reflections of our need and desire for the hope
that is found in God alone. This was followed
by the second day of Catechesis “To be Christ’s
disciples” that emphasised the importance
of continual conversion and obedience to the
Church as a sure path towards holiness. Finally
the teachings culminated on the third day which
The Way of the Cross led by the Holy See
also emphasised mission. Over 300 artistes
and volunteers from around the world
brought to life, in colour and sound, the 14
stations of the Cross. After explaining that
each person who touches the Cross leaves
something of himself at the Cross and
brings something of the Cross to his life,
Pope Francis asked the millions gathered
at the beach what each person left at the
foot of the Cross, took from the Cross and
learnt from the Cross. With conviction the
Pope told his flock that because of the
Cross we never suffer alone, and through
the Cross Jesus gives us salvation and
redemption. The Pope then asked the
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 3
It is the young who
want to be the
protagonists of
change. Please, don’t
leave it to others to
be the protagonists
of change. You are
the ones who hold the
future! You … Through
you the future is
fulfilled in the world.
I ask you also to be
protagonists of this
transformation.
young people who they would be likePilate who submitted to the crowd, Simon
who helped carry the Cross or Mary who
accompanied Christ till the end.
The Vigil is the climax of each World Youth
Day and a special opportunity for young
people to spend an entire night with the
Pope. WYD Rio’s Vigil was set to be at
Campus Fidei, a stretch of land prepared
by over 800 people over 5 months, large
enough to accommodate millions of
persons. However, the severe flooding
from heavy rain rendered it unusable
and the venue had to be moved back
to the waterfront of Copacabana. Despite
the unexpected challenges and significant
physical discomfort this change caused,
throngs of Catholics swelled along the waves
of Copacabana to hear the voice of the Pope, as
sheep listen to the voice of a shepherd. Hearing
the voice of their father in faith proved to be
worth all the difficulties and much more as
he explained his realisation that the change
in venue must remind everyone gathered that
together they were the field of faith.
He further expounded on what it meant to be
the “field of faith” sharing three key aspects
of a field: a place for growing seeds, a training
ground and a construction site. To be a
place for growing seeds requires soil that
is fertile, free from stones and able to
sustain life. In order to be fertile ground
Pope Francis asked young people to not
be afraid to ask Christ to remove the
obstacles and give strength to persevere.
Then, he asked the the youth, to be “true
athletes of Christ”, to not be afraid of
that which Christ has to say in the silence
of their hearts, to receive the gift that is
much greater than any World Cup. Finally,
he urged the young people gathered to be
active in construction of the Church and
the Kingdom of God on earth, “to build
up sweat” and become living stones that
form the Church.
Many persons who went to World Youth
Day without knowing what to expect were
changed by the Pope’s exhortation to
not suppress their desire to see a better
world but to become active in shaping
it. He said, “Your young hearts want to
build a better world. I have been closely
following the news reports of the many
“I really felt a real sense of
joy being a Catholic and more
especially being a Catholic
priest. It was a moment of reencountering Christ and also of
renewal of my VERY own vocation
as a priest. The constant and
devoted presence of the young
people at the Holy Eucharist, in
the vigil service, Way of the Cross
and their readiness to walk miles
braving every inconvenience
was indeed inspiring. It was also
remarkable to witness OUR Pope’s
affection for the young people
and the young people’s passion,
affection and love for him.”
Fr. Sojan Xavier, India
young people who throughout the world
have taken to the streets in order to express
their desire for a more just and fraternal
society. Young people in the streets. It is
the young who want to be the protagonists
of change. Please, don’t leave it to others
to be the protagonists of change. You
are the ones who hold the future! You …
Through you the future is fulfilled in the
world. I ask you also to be protagonists of
this transformation. Continue to overcome
apathy, offering a Christian response to the
social and political anxieties, which are
arising in various parts of the world. I ask
“The so-called “Francis Effect” was
visibly seen at WYD 2013. The whole
atmosphere was electric. The Pope
spoke from his heart and it was
an encounter of ‘heart-speaks-toheart’! His words made more sense
when he called youngsters to go
out and pass the experience of Jesus
and the experience of being with one
another to the whole world. I left
Rio with more faith, hope and love
and definitely re-energised by the
vibrant presence of youngsters as
well as Pope Francis, not forgetting
the ever gentle and persuasive
presence of our Living Lord!”
Fr. Binu Palakapally, JY Pastor, UK
“WYD 2013 gave me a platform to meet
a lot of youth from different parts
of the globe under the common
tag name ‘Catholic Youth’ and to be
part of other’s faith experiences,
testimonies, mission, etc. I also
found many opportunities to share
about my experience as A Jesus
Youth to many youngsters.”
Jacob Philips, India
I ask you to be
builders of the world,
to work for a better
world. Dear young
people, please, don’t
be observers of life,
but get involved.
Jesus did not remain
an observer, but he
immersed himself.
Don’t be observers,
but immerse yourself
in the reality of life,
as Jesus did.
The final Mass which was the culmination
of the Vigil on Sunday was made even more
beautiful by the homily of Pope Francis
which tied together the Catechesis of the
preceding days to illuminate the meaning
of being sent to “make disciples of all
nations”. The Pope urged young persons
on three themes related to the theme of
the World Youth Day - “Go,” “Do not be
afraid” and “Serve”. He clarified that the
call to “Go” is not one that is followed at
a convenient time or out of a desire to
dominate, rather it is out of obedience to
Christ and because it is love that impels us
all. He acknowledged the many challenges
that come when one takes up the call to be
missionary echoed in the words of Jeremiah
who said “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not
know how to speak, for I am only a youth”.
However, he pointed out that God told
you to be builders of the world, to work for
a better world. Dear young people, please,
don’t be observers of life, but get involved.
Jesus did not remain an observer, but he
immersed himself. Don’t be observers,
but immerse yourself in the reality of life,
as Jesus did”. Finally, he reminded those
present that the place to begin change as
Mother Teresa had pointed out is within
oneself and encouraged everyone to imitate
Mother Mary in saying “yes” to the Lord.
DECEMBER 2013
SEPTEMBER
2009 PAGE 5
“I could see the manifestation of
the Holy Spirit in hundreds of
youth who could communicate
with each other despite the
language barrier. Every
CHALLENGING sermon of our
beloved Pope, the energy of the
youth throughout Rio, the splash
of the waters at Copacabana
Beach, the protection of our
Heavenly Father through Christ
the Redeemer and the smile on
Jesus Youth friends IN coming
together as a family made this
World Youth Day one of the most
memorable eventS of my life.”
Immanuel Joseph, India
“Brazil gave me the chance
to witness the power of our
awesome God, to dwell in the
smiles and oneness of the
youth gathered there from all
around the world.”
Ryan Mathias, UAE
Jeremiah: “Be not afraid ... for I am with
you to deliver you” (Jer.1:7,8). The Pope
urged the youth to make the new song they
sing unto the Lord a song of service - truly
a new song in a world that is in need of
much healing and order. It was easy to take
to heart the words of encouragement the
Holy See offered when he said “you will
experience that the one who evangelises is
evangelised, the one who transmits the joy
of faith receives more joy”.
“WYD 2013 was a time to be enriched
and rejuvenated as a JY young adult.
It was a sort of heaven on earth
where the importance was only ON
being with Christ, at Mass and at
Adoration and singing praises to
Him with the whole family.”
Corinne Lobo, Canada
“My first ever World Youth Day
experience was a celebration
of my faith along with the rest
of my Catholic family, filled
with excitement, vibrancy,
youthfulness, togetherness,
love and prayer.”
Anju Abraham, UK
Altogether, World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de
Janeiro was a beautiful experience, worth
every bit of preparation and challenge for the
scores of pilgrims that found their way to the
South American city. The vision of Pope John
Paul II to bring together youth from cultures
across the globe representing the face of the
Church to pray, learn and be empowered was
realised once again through the preparation
of Pope Benedict XVI and the loving presence
of Pope Francis.
Through the days, we were blessed with
the presence of prominent cardinals and
bishops that led us in reflection on the
subthemes of WYD and celebrated Holy
Mass. Archbishop Mark Coleridge from
Australia spoke about “thirsting for hope
and thirsting for God” on the first day
of the Catechesis and Cardinal Timothy
Dolan from the US spoke about being
Christ’s disciples and going forth to be
missionaries. Each morning, the Catechesis
was animated by Jesus Youth UAE’s vibrant
praise and worship band, MasterPlan.
JY @ WYD
As in previous years, Jesus Youth had a large
role in various aspects of this international
celebration. Jesus Youth joyfully took up
the task of organising one of the English
Catechesis centres at WYD. This centre, held
in one of the schools in the village of Bras
De Pina, was the home for various groups
and organisations from America, Scotland,
Australia, UAE, Africa and other English
speaking countries, in addition to all of the
Jesus Youth participants.
As expected, the Rexband made its
presence known at WYD with lively
and powerful performances on several
main stages as well as various concerts
throughout the days of the Youth Festival.
It truly was an electrifying experience
to have the Rexband perform on the
main stage at Copacabana Beach for the
Opening Mass on 23 July .
The vision of Pope John
Paul II to bring together
youth from cultures
across the globe
representing the face
of the Church to praY,
learn and be empowered
was realised once again
through the preparation
of Pope Benedict XVI and
the loving presence of
Pope Francis.
JY INT’L GATHERING
It was a fitting end to the weeklong WYD
festivities as the entire Jesus Youth family
gathered together in prayer, reflection and
fellowship in the small town of Bras de Pina,
a village of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The morning was spent within the walls
of St. Cecilia, a magnificent, small church
placed atop a hill at the centre of the town.
Jesus Youth’s very own resources - Fr. Bony
Abraham, the National Youth Team Pastor
of Australia and Fr. Vinod Madathiparambil,
the National Pastor of USA, led the group
in reflections through the morning, on
themes such as discipleship and mission,
“W for wish. As a youth, it was my
wish to be a part of WYD and to
become a missionary. Y for happY-ness.
the entire experience was one filled
with joy. D for Destiny. I thank God for
arranging this beautiful time when i
could glorify him.”
Alaree Conception, UAE
“To be a part of 3.5 million
Catholics celebrating one faith
and worshipping one Lord was
definitely a once-in-a-lifetime
moment. The Pope’s ENCOURAGEMENT
to ‘Go and make disciples of all
nations’ truly inspired me.”
Chris Collaco, UK
respectively, as a continuation to the
themes that prevailed through the days of
World Youth Day. The morning continued
with personal sharings in groups and
was followed by testimonies from Jesus
Youth all over the world about their WYD
experience. The afternoon wrapped up
talking about the two new mission fields
of Jesus Youth - Africa and Haiti. Santhosh
Mathew from UAE shared in great detail
about the exciting happenings in JY Africa
while Sunil Nadarajan detailed the newest
developments in JY Haiti.
The time of fellowship continued after the
organised gathering and was shared with
the Brazilians as Jesus Youth and the local
parishioners worked side by side to prepare
a traditional dinner for the entire group.
The vibrant sounds of JY UAE’s MasterPlan
filled the town of Bras de Pina under the
moonlight as the locals joined in to dance
and praise God for all the blessings of the
previous week spent together and with the
wider Catholic Church. It was a bittersweet
farewell as the evening came to a close
and everyone prepared to return to their
homes and countries.
JILU JACOB & SIMI SAHU, USA
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 7
As we stepped into the
University in the beautiful town
of Lorena in Sao Paulo, where
the Youth Arise Festival was to
be held, little did we know that
our lives as missionaries were
going to be given such clarity,
vision and challenging dreams.
Beautiful Latin-American music
greeted us and it was aweinspiring to see people coming
together, across linguistic and
cultural barriers, to praise God
in unison through different
languages.
Youth Arise International (YAI),
a unique global platform for
different Catholic movements,
brought together youth from
Youth Arise International,
a unique global platform
for different Catholic
movements, brought
together youth from
different corners of the
world from 19-22 July 2013.
Held three days prior to WYD,
the festival provided plenty
of occasions to experience
the warmth Of Brazilian
hospitality and pick up a
smattering of Portuguese.
ARISE
FESTIVAL
19-22 July 2013, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
different corners of the world from 19-22 July 2013.
Held three days prior to WYD, the festival provided
plenty of occasions to experience the warmth of
Brazilian hospitality and pick up a smattering of
Portuguese.
The sessions of Henry Cappello and Salvatore
Martinez, among others, helped the young
participants delve deeper into the discovery of
faith, particularly within the context of the Year
of Faith. Throughout the festival, participants
experienced powerful Praise and Worship sessions,
relevant teachings, stirring concerts, breathtaking
choreography and mimes, colourful cultural
programmes, and more importantly, deep Adoration
and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Every evening the music festival lit up the place
with a burst of music and dance with performances
by Rexband from India, MasterPlan from UAE and
Matt Maher from USA. A special mention to the
local band ‘Banda Arkanjos’ who really moved our
“ It was a beautiful
experience of being able
to stay with PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD, pray
with them and celebrate
our faith in such vibrant
ways. It was a platform
for both, reuniting with
loved ones and also
forming new friendships
founded in Christ.”
Jolly John, USA
“At YAI, I met young people
like me from different
corners of the world,
all seeking to live their
Catholic faith in a more
meaningful way. It was
an awesome experience.
And I was challenged to
do more for Christ and
the Church.”
Anoop Scaria, Oman
“This was my first YAI
and certainly my faith
increased manifold when I
saw thousands of fellow
Catholics from different
parts of the world
gather in His name.”
Simi Michael, UAE
hearts and feet to ethnic Brazilian beats, and
glorified the Lord through dance. YAI also
offered the participants an opportunity to
engage in sightseeing tours, especially to the
renowned Basilica de Aparecida in Sao Paulo.
The days were a beautiful time to meet
different missionaries from various
movements. It was great to interact with
youngsters working in various countries,
inspiring to hear their testimonies and
challenging to see their missionary zeal. A
great realisation dawned on all of us that
the Church is going through a springtime in
evangelisation, and the need for workers is
greater than ever before. YAI started new
journeys and ultimately prepared us for the
World Youth Day experience.
RONY DOMINIC
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 9
REXBAND
TOUR OF USA & BRAZIL 2013
Our tour began with an exciting two weeks
in the US filled with a flurry of activity four Rexband concerts, a music workshop in
Houston, countless encounters with friends
and well-wishers, long hours of rehearsal,
sound checks, pack ups, intense prayers and
loads of fun. Though we had ministered in
the US earlier, this tour took us to a whole
new set of cities and people. Beginning in
Cupertino with a powerful concert where
the participation of the audience was
particularly memorable, we moved on with
Spirit-filled concerts in Anaheim, Dallas,
and Houston. The Jesus Youth families as
usual went all out to ensure that we were
transported and taken care of really well.
Beyond the concerts, the ministry and
commitment of the families who had spent
months to organise these concerts inspired
us to keep going. We were glad that God
made us instrumental in opening up “an
inspirational and enjoyable way to worship
God Almighty” as one of the concert
participants in the US put it.
The music retreat in Houston brought us
in contact with a whole new generation
of talented Jesus Youth musicians with
a desire to use their talent for the Lord.
Over the next two days the band members
and the participants would interact, share
and journey through the musical, spiritual
and personal aspects that come into play
in the life of musicians who are called to
be missionaries. All in all, an enriching
experience.
Soon we were on our way to Brazil. A
concert at Sao Paulo, our first stop, and
two days at the Youth Arise International
festival found us charged, our hearts
prepared for the 28th World Youth Day. And
now here we were in Rio de Janeiro, which
had become, as Pope Francis said, “the
center of the Church”, where we would see
“the beauty of Christ’s young face”!
The 4km long, scalloped beach of
Copacabana, acclaimed as a magnificent
confluence of land and sea was now
a mighty confluence of an estimated
3.5 million young people from across 5
continents along with elders accompanying
them, priests, bishops and religious,
officials and volunteers, all under the
benevolent gaze of the iconic statue
of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado
Mountain.
We had a first hand experience of the great, big heart
of Brazilians in the families that hosted us during the
WYD in Rio. With warm hospitality and generosity they
took us right in and gave us the run of their homes.
The World Youth Day that was begun in 1985 through
the initiative of Pope John Paul II is today one of the
biggest pilgrimages of young people who make this
journey of faith and hope with the cross of Christ in
order “to share the faith and joy of an encounter with
Christ”. The great highlight and inspiration of every
WYD is the presence of the Pope. In Rio, Pope Francis,
with his simple ways and genuine desire to be near the
people, made this “meeting of hearts” and feeling of
solidarity even more meaningful and powerful.
As we moved among the thousands of young people
thronging the streets, waving flags, participating in
the Catechesis, music festivals and cultural activities,
sharing testimonies, making the Way of the Cross,
listening to the Holy Father, we experienced yet again,
at this our 5th WYD, what it means to be a Catholic, to
have a universal vision.
Performing on the red carpet up on the main stage,
singing out our joy to the thousands gathered on the
beach with the waves gently lapping the shore and
the slight drizzle of rain spraying our faces was an
indescribable experience. We were blessed to sing
“Your music reached
the bottom of our
hearts here in Brazil.
Hope you come soon.
Hugs and thanks for
sharing The Word.”
Rafa Moura, Brazil
“It was indeed “music
that makes sense” as the
banner said. Great music,
compositions and lyrics
that made an awesome
inspiring performance.”
Edwin Spencer, USA
“Tivemos a alegria
de conhecer este
Grupo que transmite
uma alegria cristã
magnifica. Parab´nes.”
(We had the joy of
knowing this group that
transmits a Christian
joy. Magnificent.
Congratulations.)
Diacono Cordeiro,
Brazil
for the Welcoming Ceremony of the Pope as
well as the All Stars Concert. The camaraderie
with artistes from across the world in the
green rooms, exchanging CDs and email IDs,
renewing our acquaintance with musicians
from previous WYDs, being encouraged by
the organisers and volunteers, exchanging
souvenirs and smiles with pilgrims on the
streets and in the restaurants and coffee
shops, celebrating Holy Mass with the Pope,
listening to his homilies and addresses,
greeting the bishops as they passed us on their
way to the stage, in all this we were sharing
the companionship of the whole Church.
And having bid farewell and returned home,
the words of the Holy Father during the Night
Vigil continue to ring in our ears, exhorting
us to continue “being at the service of the
Church, loving her and working to make
the Countenance of Christ shine even more
brightly in her”.
BEENA MANOJ
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 11
Soon after the WYD, from 30 July to 3
August, twenty-five Jesus Youth stayed
and served in one of the largest and most
dangerous fevola (slum) in the world,
one which is isolated from the rest of Rio.
Teenagers and young people selling drugs
openly is a common sight here. The place
is notorious for its drug trafficking, street
wars, sexual immorality and alcohol abuse.
Fr. Giovani, once a Rio diocesan priest, now
lives in the slum to fight these evils. He
has formed a community of brothers and
sisters called “Precious Life”. Fr. Giovani
and some nuns along with the brothers
from his community led us in a week of
visiting people, praying with them and
mingling with the youth. The brothers took
us around the slum and shared of how the
people live in their small houses with big
families. They added that many families
were broken because their children were
involved with gangs and drugs.
The morning and afternoon times of our
mission trip were used for cleaning the
streets, washing the Church and helping
the brothers in some construction work.
During the evenings, we would split into
groups and share about Christ’s love.
Each day came to an end with Holy Mass,
Adoration and an encouraging time of
sharings and learnings.
“My highlight of WYD 2013 was the week
of mission with my JY brothers and
sisters at one of the slums in Rio. I was
so excited to witness their joy to be “full
on” for Jesus and His people in spite of
the challenging situations. The daily
Mass, prayer, sharing and fellowship,
all aided to remind us that we were the
humble instruments of God’s Love.”
Fr. Bony Abraham MGL,
Accompanying priest
“During those four days, we experienced
life of the young people in the slums of
Rio. Living with the seminary brothers
helped us to connect with a lifestyle of
charity through the daily schedule of
activities. Our rosary walks and praying
with the people living on the streets
really touched quite a few of them;
especially those who are no longer in
communication with their families.”
Remila Martis, Participant, UAE
“Words cannot describe the impact of
Mission Rio in my life. We visited houses,
pubs and met people on the streets
and prayed with them even with young
people who were selling drugs. Taking
inspiration from the activities of the
day, the daily prayer times, Eucharistic
adorations, Holy Mass and discussions,
helped all of us to reflect deeply on
our call to mission.”
Ajesh Abraham, Participant, Australia
Mission
Amazon
I was totally thrilled to go to Amazon, as I have been long
fascinated by this place. The journey was an experience
by itself. We had to take a 15-hour non-stop flight to Rio
followed by a 4-hour domestic flight to Manaus and a
2-hour drive by car to reach our destination. Finally we
travelled another 29 hours by boat through the Amazon
river (featuring rain, storms and dolphins) to reach our
first Amazon village. Fifty other missionaries from FOCUS
USA - a missionary movement working in American
University campuses, accompanied us. The Holy Mass,
Adoration and the prayers celebrated on the boat deck is
still alive in my memory.
“following the
command of Jesus
to go to all the
corners of the
world proclaiming
the Good News while
BEING with different
cultures yet under
the umbrella of the
Catholic Church
gave this mission its
richness. the days
have strengthened
my faith, brought me
closer to Jesus to
experience His divine
providence, and
has opened a new
horizon in my life.”
fadi QASTOON, uae
Fadi, UAE
In Amazon, we visited river communities,
travelling from one village to another, a
journey that usually took between 4 to 10
hours by boat. All the communities received
us like their own and did not treat us like
foreigners. We were blessed to meet very
poor people with rich and big hearts - their
hospitality and warmth was what touched
us most. In some villages we were the
first Catholic missionaries to have visited
them and they were so excited to meet
us. In a village with 50 families, they even
arranged a lunch in our honour – we knew
in our hearts that the families had pooled
in all their resources forgoing what could
have given them 4-5 days’ food. We truly
experienced unity as one body in Christ.
Language was not a problem at all, we were
sharing Christ in the language of love. In
many areas, people cried so much when we
left, that we too couldn’t control our tears.
Due to time constraints, we could spend only
a maximum of 10 hours in each village.
We visited almost 15 villages, conducting
Holy Mass and holy hour of Adoration in each
village. In many places, they celebrate Mass
only once a year due to the lack of priests. We
visited many homes to pray with the people
and to invite them for Mass. Some of them
had not attended Mass in the last 6 years. We
also conducted Catechism sessions for youth
and the children.
Our presence at each village was a World
Youth Day experience and celebration for the
villagers. A trip to Rio was impossible for them
as it was too far and expensive. But these
villagers celebrated WYD with us - people
from 3 different continents and 8 countries!
Biju P.C.
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 13
countries – UAE, India, Oman,
Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Australia and Ireland. Each
day saw theory and practical
sessions, workshops, Praise
and Worship, Eucharistic
Adoration and games that
enriched the overall formation.
JYILT 2013
5-18 August, Camillian Pastoral Care Center, Bangkok, Thailand
The 18 days of the International Leaders’
Training that took place at the Camillian
Pastoral Care Center, Bangkok was precisely the
Lord working in each and every participant’s
life and making something new out of us. To
fulfil His work, God chose the best trainers to
conduct the training in an environment that not
only facilitated a spiritual learning but also a
mental, psychological and physical uplifting.
Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Cheriyan
Nereveettil with the message “Leaders are
Ladders” and a real ladder set up in the Chapel,
marked the beginning of the training on 5
August 2013 with 18 participants from 8 different
Over the days, Subin Jacob
dealt with Paradigm Shift;
Manoj Sunny focussed
on Integrity and Faithful
Stewardship; C. C. Joseph
spoke on Contemporary
Leadership Styles,
Communication Skills,
Priorities & Managing Time;
Baby Chacko shared about
Personal Prayer; Fr. Bitaju
Mathew conducted a session
on the Sacraments; George
Devassy animated sessions on
Youth and Youth Ministry;
Fr. Joshy Mayyattil delved
into the Word of God; Raiju
Varghese threw light on
Commitment and Mission
Planning; Dr. Edward
Edezhath took us through
the JY Statutes and the
new Formation Modules &
its Implementation Plans;
Archbishop Emeritus Thomas
Menamparampil addressed
us on Evangelisation and
motivated the group with his
experiences as a missionary
in North East India and Alex
Njavally opened our eyes to
the workings of the Holy Spirit
in our lives and the various
charisms that we are blessed
with. Each of these sessions
was made even more effective
through the mediums of
case studies, Q&A sessions,
debates, character studies,
personal counselling, group
discussions, presentations in
groups and the likes.
“The International Leaders’
Training brought the huge
leap that I was anticipating
in my journey with the Lord.
New insights, challenges,
experiences and many other
blessings have given me
the boost to continue more
fervently in the mission I
have committed myself to. It
furthermore gave me clarity
as to what is expected from
a JY leader and how best to
handle certain practical
situations that arise daily in
the ministry.”
Ravindha Silva, Sri Lanka
“Till the training I was
under the impression that
I was stretching myself to
the maximum and nothing
more was possible. But now I
see that there are hundreds
of different as well as
deeper ways to glorify
God. JYILT also helped me to
understand the working
style of our movement in
different parts of the world
and how we continue as a
missionary movement at the
service of the Church.”
Charles Antony Bastian,
India
“JYILT 2013 with zealous Jesus
Youth leaders from around
the globe moulded me
spiritually and personally
to a great extent. The
encouragement and love
which I received from each
person I met has inspired
me to ponder over the
importance of winning the
heart of people if we want to
win their souls. I am blessed
to have learnt more about
the richness and beauty
of our movement from a
broader perspective.”
Jilu Mathew, Singapore
“This training was my
wakeup call in many areas;
prompting me to make some
firm decisions in my life like
the need to lead a balanced
life, to have more time for
family, friends and self,
to grow stronger and
deeper in the Lord and to
be a positive influence to
as many people as possible;
always remembering
that I have a mission and
responsibility to bring
more and more souls to
Christ.”
Vivin Thomas, UAE
JYILT most definitely brought out the
best in us. Every day, different people
were assigned the responsibility
for Liturgy, Praise and Worship,
Adoration, hall arrangements, etc.
Feedback provided at the end of the
day, both from the participants and
the elders, was useful in identifying
our mistakes and improving on our
strengths. The “well done” cards
and the “because I care” cards
were thoughtful and elevating
ideas. The cultural programmes and
stage presentations too provided
wonderful platforms to express
ourselves. Certainly each leader has
gone back to their country vibrant
than ever before!
For most of us, the highlight of our
training however was the opportunity
to interact with the fulltimers
from around the world. Especially
memorable was the welcome we
gave them after their visit to the
streets of Bangkok. The training
concluded on 18 August with His
Grace Abraham Viruthakulangara,
Archbishop of Nagpur, as the main
celebrant for the Holy Mass and
Commissioning Ceremony.
RACHELE DSILVA &
VIVIN THOMAS
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 15
JYIft 2013
On 4 August 2013, eighteen youth
from eight different countries arrived
at the Camillian Pastoral Center in
Bangkok, Thailand to embark upon
a journey undertaken in response
to their missionary call in the Jesus
Youth movement. The eight batch
of the Jesus Youth International
Fulltime Volunteers’ Training began
this passage towards embracing their
missionary call by realising over a
month-long training that foolishness
in Christ is what makes them worthy
of mission. During their days in
Bangkok, the participants grew to love
their new identity as ‘fools for Christ’.
These young enthusiasts were led by a
Training Team dedicated and devoted
to their growth with Subin Jacob as
the Co-ordinator and Fr. Cheriyan
Nereveettil as the Pastor along with
Sr. Thresiamma Philip, Baby Chacko,
and Sumol Pious. Further direction
to be conformed to Christ in both
mind and spirit was imparted by a
highly competent resource team that
included C.C. Joseph, Manoj Sunny,
George Devassy, Raiju Varghese,
Dony Peter, Dr. Edward Edezhath,
Fr. Sebastian Arikat, and Fr. Bitaju
Mathew. The Fulltime Volunteers’
4-31 August,
Camillian
Pastoral
Care Center,
Bangkok,
Thailand
Training could be effectively summed
up into three phases:
Phase 1: Relationship with Christ
The training started off with a
three-day silent retreat. This helped
the group rediscover the beauty of
silence and deepen the basics of their
faith. The beautiful ways in which the
Holy Mass and the Adorations were
conducted left a great impact on the
participants, filling them with renewed
energy and strength. The sessions
provided opportunities to reflect
and realise the need to have strong
roots in personal prayer, Word of God,
accountability through fellowship,
and a genuine heart to receive the
Sacraments.
Phase 2: Relationship with self
Over the following weeks, besides
fundamental training in discipleship
and leadership, the participants were
led through classes on re-discovering
their self, identifying their strengths
and weaknesses and increasing their
confidence. Talks on evangelisation
by Jude Antoine and the outreach
experiences in the city of Bangkok
helped the participants understand
that taking up this one-year commitment
meant accepting the call to discipleship and
boldly proclaiming that ‘Jesus is Lord’, for which
an encounter with the person of Jesus was
fundamental. Fr. Joshy Mayyattil’s informative
sessions on the Word of God opened their
eyes to a God who is waiting to speak to them
through the Bible. Self-discovery sessions taken
by Leo Thaddeus then pushed each participant
to develop a sense of creativity and a zeal to
proclaim Christ in a manner relevant in the
contemporary world. Finally, Archbishop Emeritus
Thomas Menamparampil and Archbishop Abraham
Viruthakulangara challenged the group to be rooted
in loving the Church and being at her service.
Phase 3: Relationship with others
One month of living and learning together
transformed the participants coming from
different countries and cultures into one
big family in Christ. They could experience
a new relationship with Christ and among
each other. A freedom of the Spirit to pray,
play, sing, dance, cry and laugh together
as a community was felt by them and the
training team.
The young participants embarked upon
their mission to make disciples of all
“Before this 28-day
journey, I had a
meaningless life,
constantly seeking
inner peace in the
pleasures of the
world. During my
retreat in Thailand,
I was able to
experience God and
the Holy Spirit to
whom I surrendered
my life. From then
on, everything has
started to change
in a positive way
and gradually
I have become
stronger in the
Spirit.”
Paul Purification,
Bangladesh
nations with a closing solemn
Holy Mass and Commitment
Ceremony celebrated by
Most Rev. John Bosco Panya,
Bishop of Ratchaburi, while
holding close to their hearts
the knowledge that this
one-year mission would serve
as formation for a lifetime
commitment to Christ.
Rajeev Philip &
Elvi emmanuel
“I was deeply touched
by God’s immense
love throughout
the whole training,
especially through
the frequent
reception of the
sacraments of
the Eucharist and
Reconciliation and
through the love
and sacrifice of
the Training Team
and the resource
persons. Seeing their
commitment to the
Lord inspired me
and made me proud
to be part of such a
beautiful Jesus Youth
family!”
“Initially, my goal at JYIFT
was TO learn how to become
a missionary. And in my mind,
a missionary for Jesus was
one who would go around
helping others and getting
involved in many activities
that would proclaim His
love. Over the weeks, I
realised that God was
calling me to something
different: to get over my
intense desire to become a
Martha, too worried about
all the things that I had to
do for Jesus. Instead, God
was calling me to come to
his feet like Mary and spend
time savouring His presence
and growing in a strong
relationship with Him.”
“The brainstorming
sessions on
evangelisation and
discipleship were very
powerful and thoughtprovoking, and were
authenticated by teachings
from the books of the
Church. This prepared us
before we were literally
thrown into the lion’s
den – the city of Bangkok,
to proclaim the message
of salvation. The two days
of evangelisation helped
each one of us to realise
the depthS of our faith,
and tested our courage to
‘go out and make disciples’.
It was a challenging
experience for us all.”
Katie Heitmann, USA
Nicole Ann Edezhath, USA
Blessy JOSEPH, uae
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 17
JYIEP 2013
14-24 August, Camillian Pastoral Care Center, Bangkok, Thailand
Fourteen youngsters from different
countries, diverse backgrounds
and varied cultures came together
with a spirit of great joy and unity
for the Jesus Youth International
Exposure Programme 2013 held at
the Camillian Pastoral Care Centre,
Thailand from the 14 to 24 of
August. The fourth JYIEP included
participants from Canada, India,
Ireland, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Switzerland and UAE. The ten days
provided the participants with an
unforgettable platform for learning,
sharing, praying and celebrating a
joyful Christian living. The training was co-ordinated by a
team comprising of Fr. Bitaju Mathew as Pastor and Abhy
Thomas as the Co-ordinator.
The training started by helping the participants to shift
their personal paradigms, followed by a retreat led by the
training team. The remaining days of the programme centred
on exploring the importance of discipleship in the journey
of a Jesus Youth. Various themes like Prayer, Sacraments,
Fellowship, Word of God, Church, Evangelisation, Option
for the needy, Richness of our Catholic Faith, Witnessing
in Contemporary world, Witnessing in family, chastity and
“JYIEP was a
mind-blowing
experience for
me. The days
helped me to
understand
“who I am”.
The session
on paradigm
shift turned
my life around
and I found my
true self. This
has helped
me remain
focused on
the Lord.”
Alan Mendez,
UAE
“The JYIEP was
an amazing
experience. I
was inspired to
know a little
more ABOUT OUR
amazing leaders
cum missionaries,
to spend time
with them and
to learn from
them and to
meet people
from different
countries and to
experience the
joyfulness of
being a JY.”
Ciji John, India
“This programme gave
me true perspective
on what it means to
be ‘a missionary in a
missionary movement’,
an intrinsic part of the
Jesus Youth lifestyle
of which I had only a
clichéd understanding
prior to JYIEP. This very
realisation has motivated
and challenged me to
spread the life-changing
message of the Gospel to
those around me.”
Kevin Michael, Canada
“It was a
life-changing
experience.
Being
surrounded by
amazing people
and leaders
of the Jesus
Youth movement
taught me
lessons that
I will never
forget. I thank
God for giving
me such a
wonderful
opportunity.”
Alvin Joys,
Canada
“What inspired
me the most
during the
JYIEP was the
commitment
and love that
the leaders had
for each of us;
it motivated me
to do the same
and taught me
what it meant
to be a real
Jesus Youth.”
Christeen De
Silva, Sri Lanka
“JYIEP was a
blessed experience.
We got the chance
to share our
faith and learn
from each one.
Besides teaching
me more about the
JY movement, the
programme helped
me to grow in my
faith and to reexperience the love
and joy of God.”
Jessica Eberhart,
Switzerland
various practical tips to help live a
vibrant Christian life in today’s world
were explored through talks, times of
silence, reflections, activities & games,
debates, discussions, prayer sessions and
Eucharistic celebrations.
The participants were privileged to
have resource persons like Dr. Edward
Edezhath, Manoj Sunny, Raiju Varghese,
C.C. Joseph, Baby Chacko, Alex Njavally,
Dony Peter, Siljo Thomas, Tomas Michael
and Subin Jacob to help with the various
modules. The inspiring talks by His Grace
Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara
and His Grace Archbishop Emeritus
Thomas Menamparampil left a deep
impression, while motivating and
encouraging each youngster present
to respond to God’s call with zeal and
dedication.
The participants returned to their
respective countries with the
determination to become a joyful
response in today’s world backed by a
greater love for the Lord and His Church,
clearer vision and inspired hearts for
mission.
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 19
The Jesus Youth International Animators’ Training - an intensive
and dynamic programme for committed animators was held
from 20 to 31 August 2013 at the Camillian Pastoral Care Center,
Latkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand. There were twenty participants
consisting of lay elders, priests and nuns from different parts of
the world. The programme was an in-depth training for adults
with a focus on youth animation and ministering to families.
JYIAt
2013
20-31 August,
Camillian Pastoral Care Center,
Bangkok, Thailand
The days, monitored by
renowned trainers, were
conducted in an environment
facilitating an interactive
and experiential learning,
leading to a holistic and
exponential paradigm shift in
the lives of the participants.
The programme began on 20
August evening with Holy Mass
and Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament led by Fr. Sebastian
Arikat, Pastor – JYIAT’13.
During the next two days, the
participants made a silent
retreat, with a special focus on
personal prayer, confession,
Adoration and healing prayer.
This preparation ensured that
the participants were spiritually
fit and open to imbibe the
entire training.
Each day began with Holy
Mass, followed by breakfast,
the Jesus Youth Prayer and the
morning sessions. The Rosary
was prayed together daily, after
the lunch break preceding the
afternoon talks. In the evenings,
the participants enjoyed
and engaged in sports and
group activities, which helped
them to grow in team spirit
and fellowship. The evening
sessions always concluded
with Adoration. Through the
training days, the participants
were divided into four
groups and each team
was given different
responsibilities such as
to make arrangements
and lead the JY Prayer,
Rosary, Holy Mass, etc.
The training programme
comprised of various
topics, which helped the
participants to set a vision
and mission for their
missionary lives. Different
inputs on ministering to
the youth today helped
the participants to keep
abreast of the current
trends and attitudes of
modern youth and realise
the importance of being
better trained. Group
discussions, case studies,
individual presentations,
personal testimonies – all
saw to better interaction
among the participants.
The presence of JYIAT
’13 Pastor - Fr. Sebastian
Arikat and Co-ordinator
“The various informative
sessions and carefully
thought out workshops
enabled us to think
out-of-the-box while
basing ourselves firmly
on Christian values. This
has equipped us better
to meet the challenges
faced while ministering
to youth.”
Boban Mathew, Canada
“JYIAT ’13 was a well-planned
and organised programme with
much prayers and concerted
efforts by the organisers. Most
of us came from different parts
of the world but from the very
first day, we clicked with each
other like with our own family
members. It was certain that the
power of the Holy Spirit was at
work through each of us.”
Sr. Stella, Malaysia
“The Animators’
Training drew
our attention to
discovering Jesus
more intimately in the
youth we animate. This
has left an imprint
in my life which can
never be erased.”
Fr. William
Gamboripai,
South Sudan
- Adolf Goldwyn along with
Dr. Edward Edezhath, Santosh,
Manoj Sunny and many other
resource persons enriched the
ambience of the event.
“My lips will proclaim your
intervention and tell of your
salvation all day, little though it
is what I can understand” (Psalm
71:15) was the main theme for
the Commissioning Ceremony
held on 31 August for both the
Animators and the Fulltime
Volunteers. The event started
with welcoming the Guest of
Honour for the day - Most Rev.
John Bosco Panya, Bishop of
Ratchaburi followed by a short
interaction session with His
Excellency. After the Holy Mass
celebrated by His Excellency, the
animators were commissioned
and they took their oath of
commitment. It was an added
blessing to receive the Papal
Indulgence as a part of the 400th
Anniversary celebration of the
Camillian Pastoral Care Center.
Stany Shine
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 21
GLOBAL NEWSWATCH
Intercession Week, Kuwait
Farewell Gathering, Italy
KUWAIT
OMAN
 Discipleship Formation Programme
About 30 members participated in a
national level Discipleship Formation
Programme from 26 July-10 August.
 National Family Gathering
On 30 August, around 40 families spent a
day in prayer and fellowship.
 Intercession Week
From 1-9 September, Intercession week was
celebrated and saw more than 150 members
lifting up various prayer needs through
rosaries, mercy chaplets and fasting.
The concluding ceremony was conducted
at the City Cathedral and included a
procession on knees to the grotto.
 Households
Six different households are being held in
various areas on a monthly basis, in which
all the leaders come together.
Dinoy David
 ‘Exodus 2013’
A three-day retreat in English was held from
8-10 August at the Ruwi Parish for around
130 participants.
 ‘Faith Fest 2013’
Around 250 participants took part in a twoday retreat held in Malayalam at the Ghala
Parish during the Eid Holidays.
 ‘Salt & Light’
Eid Holidays saw yet another two-day
retreat in Malayalam in Salalah which
was attended by 20 people.
Lijin Sebastian
ITALY
 Farewell Gathering
To bid farewell to Fr. Sanoj Joy, a constant
support and guide for JY Rome over the
last five years, a special gathering and
Holy Mass was held at Santa Maria Grazia
alla Fornaci Church on 29 September. The
monthly meetings and activities for JY
Rome for the new academic year were also
initiated on the day.
Jaimit George
SRI LANKA
 DTP
The national Discipleship Training
Programme was held from 9-14 April at
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. 40 youth
from 5 dioceses participated.
 ‘Christ-Meet’
An encounter retreat focused on teens,
‘Christ-Meet’ was organised parallel to the
DTP from 12-14 April at the same venue. 18
youngsters from the Diocese of Colombo
attended the programme.
 Master Builders
A training programme to assist 22
individuals to grow in their discipleship
commitment was held from 12-14 April. The
presence of Most Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva, the
JY Trainings, Sri Lanka
Retreat, Malaysia
Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, was a blessing
for all the participants.
 JY Sri Lanka Recommitment Day
On 23 June, more than 150 people came
together for the Jesus Youth Sri Lanka
Recommitment Day. With the theme ‘Spirit
Reigns’, the event highlights included a
gospel concert by the Music ministry, a
session about missionary lifestyle and the
launch of the ‘Year of Missions’ which will
continue up to Recommitment Day 2014.
Shanuka Perera
MALAYSIA
 Retreat
More than 30 people attended a residential
retreat at Port Dickson near Kuala Lumpur
from 8-10 August. The group, comprising of
both families as well as singles, were led
to experience the joy of coming together
as one family with Jesus at the centre. The
retreat has been an important milestone
in the growth of JY Malaysia as it was the
initial step of an on-going formation for
active discipleship.
Juliet Raymond
BANGLADESH
 ‘Father’s Call’
On 4 October, a group of young people
and upcoming leaders from Jesus Youth
attended a one-day programme titled
‘Father’s Call’ at the Fatima Rani Church
JY Family Conference, UAE
GLOBAL NEWSWATCH
‘Revive’, Ireland
JY Family Conference, UAE
National Animators’ Training, India
INDIA
 Faith Conferences
Between August and October, Faith
Conferences were held in Gujarat, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu & Chhattisgarh. Based on
the theme ‘to know, live and share the
faith’, musical celebrations, audio visual
presentations, choreographies and cultural
events along with prayerful Adorations, and
exhibitions added flavour to the gatherings.
The Faith Conferences have been a
milestone for Jesus Youth India in bringing
about a new fervour and passion for the
Holy Catholic Church and the missionary
nature of Jesus Youth.
Asha Sanil
 National Trainings 2013
National Animators’ Training Programme was
held at Siloam, Shillong from 15-22 October
and was attended by 18 priests, religious
and lay animators from across the country.
National Leaders’ Training Programme
was held at the same venue from 12-22
October with 28 active Jesus Youth leaders
participating. Most Rev. Jose Mukala, Bishop
Emeritus of Kohima, presided over the
Commitment Ceremony held jointly for both
the trainings on 22 October.
 DTP North East
A Discipleship Training Programme was
organised in Siloam, Shillong from 14-20
September by the National Team. There
were around 30 participants from West
Bengal and North East India.
 National Intercession Retreat
JY UAE’s first national Intercession retreat
in Malayalam was held in Sharjah from 7-9
August and was attended by more than 100
intercession ministry members from all over
UAE. Intercession cells and other initiatives
such as prayer tower and intercession
network were formed in different Emirates
as a result of the retreat.
 Rosary Rally for Middle East Peace
As part of the International Intercession
week, JY UAE set aside a day to pray for
Peace in the Middle East. In each of the
seven Emirates, a prayer station was setup
from where rosaries were continuously
prayed. Simultaneously, two teams of
volunteers started traveling from both ends
in Bandarban. The group of around 85
people were inspired and guided towards
a JY lifestyle through a variety of activities,
sessions, games and music.
John Tripura
raised to the skies accompanied by birthday
songs to our beloved Mother during the
time of prayer at Phoenix Park, located in
the heart of Dublin.
Shini Michael
IRELAND
BAHRAIN
 ‘Revive’
Jesus Youth Ireland had their annual
residential summer retreat for youth
and late teens from 23-26 June at the
Newgrange Lodge, Co-Meath. The
participants enjoyed every minute;
spending time in prayer and deepening
their encounter with Christ. The desire
to live and share the Good News of Jesus
continues to grow amongst them.
 Intercession Retreat
From 20-22 September, an intercession
retreat helped 35 participants to understand
the necessity of intercession and prayer. The
inspiring talks and Adorations helped the
participants to deepen their faith and open
their hearts to Divine wisdom.
 Intercession Week
As part of the International Intercession
Week, JY Ireland organised a 40-hour
Eucharistic Adoration at Our Lady of
Visitation Church, Fairview, Dublin from
6-8 September. On the feast of the Nativity
of Our Lady, youth gathered in the city
centre and prayed the rosary together
while walking through the streets. A rosary
decade made of hydrogen balloons was also
 National Team Reconstitution
The reconstitution of the National Team
took place on 24 May 2013. Roshan George
is the new National Co-ordinator, Benson
Miranda is the Asst. Co-ordinator and Fr. Joy
Menachery is the Spiritual Director.
Roshan George
New JY National Team, Bahrain
UAE
Kerala Faith Conference, India
DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 23
GLOBAL NEWSWATCH
Intercession Retreat, UAE
‘Marian Voyage 2013’, UK
(Northern and Southern) of UAE, visiting
and praying at each prayer station. By
evening both teams reached the JY Home in
Dubai for the final blessing.
 JY Home Blessing
The blessing of the newly renovated JY
home was held on 11 May in Dubai.
Fr. Varghese (JY Pastor) and Fr. Stalin (Young
Adults Ministry Director) along with JYs
from different streams were present to
witness this grace-filled moment. JY Home
is a major hub for most of the Jesus Youth
meetings and programmes.
 National Outreach Orientation Programme
An Outreach Orientation Programme in
English was conducted on 5 July in Jebel
Ali with participants from all over UAE. The
main purpose of the programme was to
enhance reach out in the local areas.
 Outreach Training Programme Follow-up
Further to the Outreach Training Programme
held last year, a follow-up gathering
was conducted on 5 July 2013. Nineteen
participants from different parishes in UAE
came together at St. Francis Church, Jebel
Ali to rekindle the fire received through the
training and to plan out the activities in
their respective parishes for the next three
months.
 Charism Workshop
A three-day residential Charism Workshop
in English was conducted from 20-22 June.
It was held for 30 participants who were
core team members and upcoming leaders
from all over the UAE.
 JY Family Conference
More than 100 families attended a threeday conference from 14-16 October in Jebel
Ali with separate sessions organised for the
kids. The Conference concluded with a Holy
Mass in which the couples renewed their
marriage vows.
 Mission Exposure, Nagpur
30 LEAD (Leadership Enhancement for
Active Discipleship) participants made a
mission exposure trip to Nagpur in India
from 15-20 August. The trip began with
a retreat followed by parish outreach
programmes to the rural villages of Padre
Thana and Butibori. His Grace Archbishop
Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur
celebrated the concluding Holy Mass. The
group has now returned with a renewed
sense of mission in their lives.
 Growth Retreats and One-Day Programme
Between 14-16 October, growth retreats
were held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with 225
and 98 participants respectively. In Sharjah,
a one-day programme titled ‘Samrudhi’ was
held on 16 October with nearly 1000 youth
participating.
Vincy Sybin
UK
 Leaders’ Training Programme
In the context of the changing phase of the
movement especially in UK, the National
team organised a leaders’ training
programme from 13-16 June at the Hallam
Diocese Pastoral Centre in Sheffield. The
group was accompanied by key leaders
from the movement and the Charismatic
Renewal in UK.
 ‘Marian Voyage 2013’
Through the whole of October, Jesus Youth
UK organised perpetual rosaries in different
parts of the country. On 27 October, a
pilgrimage was made to the Shrine of Our
Lady of Walsingham. As a symbol of all their
prayers and supplication, a rosary made of
balloons was also released that day.
 Leaders’ Formation Programme
A group of 11 youth have embarked on a
year-long formation programme that would
equip them to evolve as young leaders of
the movement. Accompanied by five elders
and supported by pastoral guidance, the
group will delve into matters of faith and
explore the richness of Catholicism. So far,
the group has completed four modules.
 Youth Formation Programme
A Youth Formation Programme began in
January with candidates from various
parts of the UK. Over the course of 12
‘Faith Conference 2013’, UK
months, the participants will attend six
modules, which will strengthen their
faith, give them an experience that they
can share with the rest of their prayer
group and help them grow personally.
A number of Jesus Youth families and
resources are journeying with them.
 ‘Faith Conference 2013’
An initiative of the Jesus Youth UK Family
Ministry, ‘Faith Conference 2013’ saw around
130 adults and 95 children come together
from all parts of UK, united in one Faith and
Spirit. The four-day Conference centred
on the need for a deeper understanding of
our Faith while reflecting on how we Live,
Share and proclaim our Faith. Pre-teens
were also immersed in a separate funfilled and exhilarating programme of their
own. The Conference held in August at the
Pioneer Centre, Shropshire saw a new wave
of passion and devotion to the Eternal Faith,
sweeping through the JY families across
UK – already leading to new initiatives and
new life-changing decisions.
Arun Paul
Mary, mother dearest,
we implore your grace to walk
in the footsteps of Your Son
than in the ways of the world.
Amen.
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 www.jesusyouth.org  Editor-in-charge: Shelton Pinheiro  Editorial Team: Beena Manoj, Anu Pinheiro & Liss Thomas  Layout: Sanil C.A.  Printed by SR Graphics, Kottayam, Ph:+91 481-2301142