Empowering Catholic Youth: A Call to Excellence, Unity, and Service

By Isaac Gomes –

Kolkota: In a time when intolerance is on the rise and divisiveness is being fostered among different religions and cultures, the Catholic Teachers Guild (CTG) of the Archdiocese of Calcutta is advocating for a single-minded pursuit of excellence by Catholic youth in their chosen professional fields. This approach, they believe, will help transcend polarisation and divisions with love and empathy.

On April 20, 2024, Joseph Chacko, Senior Teacher of St James’ School Kolkata and President of CTG, welcomed around 700 Catholic students from classes 9 to 12 to a Career Guidance Workshop at Don Bosco School Park Circus (DBPC) auditorium. The Chief Guest for the event was Bishop Nirmol Gomes SDB, Bishop of Krishnanagar Diocese, who is a doctorate in pedagogy and is an accomplished musician.

Picking up his accordion, Bishop Gomes inaugurated the programme with a short prayer and sang two songs, including “All to Jesus, I surrender…” and a famous Bengali song, “ধনধান্য পুষ্প ভরা আমাদের এই বসুন্থরা, তাহার মাঝে আছে দেশ এক সকল দেশের সেরা” (Dhono dhanyo pushpe bhora amader ei bashoodhara, tahaar maajhe aachey desh ek shokol desher shera), which was met with enthusiasm from the audience.

In his welcome speech, Bishop Gomes exhorted the gathered students to imbibe three types of consciousness: God Consciousness, Self Consciousness, and Society Consciousness. He reiterated that today’s youth are multi-talented but if God is not put at the center, then all their efforts would be dissipated and fruitless. He advised the participants to equip themselves with these attributes, along with the power of vision. He also cited Pope Francis, who urges us to have a thirst for life and not to take early retirement, which is the trend nowadays. He encouraged them to be always joy-filled, as joy is contagious.

Bishop Gomes lamented that today we are surrounded by “masks of communion” which are artificial. He urged the youth to be builders of communion (unity) and said, “Today oneness is missing. We are living in a polarised divisive society.”

The next speaker was Fr Anthony Rodrick – Director of Seva Kendra Kolkata, which is the social service arm of the Archdiocese of Calcutta. He said that if one chooses a career path with great passion, miracles can take place. He highlighted Seva Kendra’s 22 planned programmes across Bengal and its short-term vocational training for dropouts to help them stand on their own feet and earn money after completion of the course. He also highlighted programmes on prevention of substance abuse, green and clean city and village, and renewable energy.

The resource persons were then introduced and felicitated. They included Dr Sipra Goswami, in-charge of the Rural Health Training Centre of ICare Institute of Medical Science & Research, Haldia, who has received several accolades for her service to the poor and marginalised from the minority commission. She is also an excellent pianist and a proud mother of five children.

Tanishka Saffri, a Ph.D. in Psychology, who aims to make people realize the importance of mental health, was also introduced. Althea Philips, Assistant Editor with the Times of India group, was recognised for her contributions to the field of journalism by the Government of India and most recently for Excellence in Journalism by the Geetanjali Group.

Farrell Shah, Director of the Social Communications Commission of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, who is in charge of all the official broadcast/webcast programmes of the Archdiocese, was also introduced. Culinary & Confectionery expert Mr Chaudhary, management expert Luke John Gomes, Law expert Raja Xavier, Music expert Peter Gomes were also introduced.

Jesuit priest Sebastian James – VP St Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and Sisters Helen and Regina from Little Sisters of the Poor, appealed to the gathered students to consider religious life as a career option. While priesthood and nunhood are traditionally considered vocations and not careers, the CTG is encouraging Catholic youth to consider these options as a way to serve God and society.

The Catholic Teachers Guild (CTG) of the Archdiocese of Calcutta is an organisation that aims to promote the mission of Catholic education within the Archdiocese of Calcutta. The mission of the Catholic school is to provide a holistic education that integrates faith, culture, and life, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.