Udupi Diocese

The Regional YCS/YSM Council & Election At St. Joseph Church Belman Diocese of Udupi

15-17 th October 2021 : The Regional Youth Commission had organized YCS/YSM Regional council and election on 15-17 th October 2021, at St Joseph Church Belmann in Udupi Diocese. Around 35 YCS/YSM leaders along with their Directors and animators from the dioceses of Bangalore, Belgaum, Bellari, Mangalore, Shimoga and Udupi participated.

The first day of the Karnataka Regional Council 2021 began with the exposure visit to Padubidri Beach wherein the four dioceses Udupi, Mangalore, Bangalore and Belgaum were present. The participants enjoyed and bonded with each other. All of us had rosary and vespers in the evening. After the supper, we had gathered outside for a short evaluation and sharing where everyone shared their journey of YCS followed by fun- filled activities conducted by Deril Dsa YCS/YSM National President. Fr Edwin gave some instruction to the participants regarding the next day and with a short prayer, the first day of the council ended.

The second day of the council began with the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Fr Lourd Raj, the Regional Chaplain and Fr Roshan the diocesan chaplain Belgaum concelebrated at 7 am.

The first-day session began at 9 am. Fr Lourd Raj gave a short introduction to YCS Regional meeting and invoked God’s blessing. Later he introduced the resource person Fr Charles Menezes the director of ICYM Udupi Diocese.

Fr Charles spoke about “The Spirituality of YCS” In which he elaborated the method of YCS- SEE, JUDGE, ACT. He continued saying that we see the ‘truth of life’ in the people whom we come in contact with. By understanding the truth of the life of people we judge them through the truth of faith. Therefore bridging the gap between the truth of life and the truth of faith is the spirituality of YCS. That helps to ACT like prophets, Jesus, Church (The truth of method/movement). After the session, we had introduced the would-be REXCO Team to everyone. Thereafter all had gone for a tea break.

In the second session, we had a sharing session with every diocesan chaplain to learn from each other. Mr Joyson Menezes from Udupi who had been trained YCS movement shared his experience of the movement and guided the participants about the Cell Meeting and its importance in the YCS Movement.

Fr. Edwin D’souza the chaplain of the Udupi diocese engaged in the third session wherein he explained YCS and YSM respectively and their structural function. Later three groups were formed and a case study was taken up for discussion. After having discussed the case, a time was given to share their reviews in common to make them

understand the basic method of YCS-See, Judge and Act. The children were actively participated in the sharing session, brought their reflection, action and evaluated the case.

In the noon the children had been taken to exposure nearby places like; St. Lawrence Minor Basilica Attur, Sri Krishna Matha Udupi, Our Lady of Sorrow Church Udupi and Stella Maris Church Kalmadi.

The Taize Prayer was conducted by Mr Derik Mascarenus in the evening. It was a moment of spiritual nourishment to the children wherein they were invited to pray for their parents, animators and movement.

After the supper, we all gathered for a short evaluation of the day. Many had expressed their positive view of the YCS Movement and the day they spent with other participants. The third day of the regional council began with a universal prayer conducted by Fr Pius D’souza the diocesean Chaplain Shimoga at 7.30 am in morning. After breakfast two of the parish council members engaged in the first session wherein they shared their experience in the YCS movement as well as being animators of the movement. After the session the animation was conducted by the YCS team Mangalore meanwhile the regional YCS election 2021 took place in the presence of Fr. Lourd Raj Regional Chaplain, Deril D’sa National President YCS and Sr. Mable SCB animator Shimoga following norms given by the National Commission. Later Fr Lourd Raj announced the new regional REXCO team to the participants and the new REXCO members introduced themselves to the others. After the tea break, every diocese was asked to share their diocesan report 2020-21.

In the second session, we had taken up the topic “Impact on teenagers during Pandemic and action plan for Post-COVID Era” to study in detail. The groups were divided to write down the positive and negative impact on teenagers and later to draw action plan which could help the teenagers to cope with. Each group came up with their positive and negative observations and shared them with the participants.

In the next session, the National YCS/YSM Chaplain Fr Chethan Machado explained National Action Plan based on International and National Theme and its implementation in the region. Mr. Abhishek National YSM Coordinator shared the different activities that are being conducted by the national team and also urged them to participate in every programme. It was also a special day for Fr Edwin who celebrated his birthday. All of us along with his family members and well-wishers gathered together to wish him later we had sumptuous food together.

The thanksgiving mass was scheduled at 2.30 pm in the church. Fr Chethan Machado celebrated mass and prayed for all. The newly elected REXCO’s were sworn before God and took oath for their new responsibilities. All other priests concelebrated the mass.

After the mass, all of us gathered once again in the hall for the concluding ceremony. Ms Jesvita and Ms Hezel cherished their good old memories and shared their experience of being YCS/YSMers. Fr. Edwin thanked and honoured everyone and presented the St Joseph statue to all the participants as a token of love. Fr. Lourd Raj the regional chaplain thanked again from the regional part and expressed his feeling of being on cloud nine. He continued saying that Fr Edwin put him in the comfortable zone while taking the responsibilities on his shoulder to host this regional council and election 2021. After the photo session, the three days of the meeting concluded with God’s blessings.