By Team ICM –
The training for Regional and Diocesan Secretaries of Commission for Catechetics on Youth Catechesis in Church in India was organized under the auspices of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Catechetics from 11-13 September 2018 at Gyanodaya Pastoral Centre of the Diocese of Jalandhar. It began at 9 a.m. with the Pontifical Holy Eucharistic Celebration officiated by the CCBI Secretary General, His Grace Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Arch Bishop of Delhi.
The conference proposed an action plan for the year to come and to be actualized in the dioceses.
The Inaugural session was chaired by the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Catechetics, His Grace Arch Bishop Thomas Macwan and was inaugurated by the Chairman of the CCBI Youth Commission, His Excellency Bishop Franco Mulackal (he has since stepped down temporarily from his position on September 13).
Over 130 priests, sisters and laypersons from all over India participated in this conference. The report of the commission was presented by Rev. Fr. Duming Gonsalves, the Secretary, CCBI Commission for Catechetics and the reports of the various regions were presented by the concerned secretaries.
After the keynote address by Rev. Fr. Gilbert Choondal on the Challenges of Youth Catechesis in the Context of Synod 2018 the following papers were presented and discussed upon: Youth Catechesis: Goals, Objectives and Models of Youth Catechesis by Rev. Fr. Vijay Machado, Organization of Parish/Diocesan Youth Day by Rev. Fr. Chetan Machado and Guidelines for Effective Youth Catechesis by Rev. Fr. Vincent D’Cruz. A panel discussion with Rev. Frs. George Chinnappan, SDB, Joseph Arlagadda and Chitaranjan Senapati was part of the conference. An interaction with four youth and a sample youth liturgy led by Rev. Fr. Gilbert Choondal added life and vigour to the conference.