ICYM News
MINUTES OF 24 th KYRC COUNCIL MEETING
The Karnataka Regional Youth Commission had organized KRYC Council on 11 th March
2021 at KROSS, Bangalore. The Council meeting began with a short inaugural Ceremony at
10:00 am by watering the sapling and a short prayer service led by the youth of the Mysore
Diocese. Mr Jaison Perriera, the regional youth president of ICYM Karnataka, welcomed the
dignitaries and the gathering. The Dignitaries were, Rev.Fr. Lourd Raj, Executive Secretary
KRYC, Karnataka, Rev. Fr. Thomas Barose, DYD representative, Rev. Sr. Blessy, DYLA
representative, Mr Jaison Pereira, RYP, Miss Krithika, General Secretary, ICYM Karnataka.
The last KRYC council report was read by Krithika, and the same was proposed by Rev. Fr.
Thomas Baros and seconded by Sr. Blessy. Rev. Fr. Lourd Raj welcomed everyone in the
name of chairman Bishop and asked the other youth movements to present the reports. Mr
Sebastian, President Don Bosco, Mr Joel from Jesus Youth, Rev. Fr. Rupesh for YCS/ YSM
Mangalore and Fr. Susainathan YCS/YSM Bangalore presented their report of their activities
in the last year. After having presented the reports the regional president Mr Jaison took up
the following agendas to discuss in the Council.
1. Extension of the regional team:
As we are aware, the last year due to pandemic Covid-19 we could not have many
activities in the region even the REXCO team could not contribute more. The same was the
feeling among National Team Members too. So the above point was put forth to get the
suggestions in the council if their term of office for one more year to be continued or not. If it
is agreed the diocese, Regional and National also should continue one more year. Some of
the directors opined that they are already in the process of forming a new DEXCO Team in
the diocese so it is not good to continue.
2. KRYC Council Election:
The KRYC regional team is due for election. The present members have already
completed their term. It was proposed to have an election in the year 2020 but due to
COVID-19, it was not actualized. Therefore, once again it was proposed by the council to
have it in May 2021.
3. YCS/YSM Regional Election:
The Regional YCS/YSM team is also due for election. The regional commission in
collaboration with the diocese of Udupi had almost set to conduct an election in April 2020.
But due to the Pandemic, it was dropped out. The regional secretary once again asked the
forum to suggest a suitable date to conduct the election. Diocesan directors felt that it would
be good to have the same in the next academic year during public holidays.
4.Preparation of Diocesan Pastoral plan:
The Regional Youth Commission is come up with the new Pastoral Plan for the
Region 2021-23 and the same was presented to KRCBC Meeting and is approved by the
bishops. Hence, the regional secretary requested the directors that it would be good if every
diocese prepares a diocesan pastoral plan based on the vision, mission, goal and objectives of
the regional plan so that one plan may be implemented in the entire region.
5. Regional youth training programme:
The Regional Secretary expressed that a good number of times whenever a training
programme is organized many youth find it difficult to participate for reasons of distance to
travel or financial difficulties. To make it convenient the idea of a zonal training programme
was proposed. This would enhance the number of participants as well as improve the local
participation and provide them better opportunities. To facilitate this idea three zones were
identified- North Zone, South Zone and Coastal Zone. The North zone includes Bellary,
Belgaum and Gulbarga Dioceses. The Coastal zone includes Mangalore, Karwar, Udupi,
Belthangady and Puttur Dioceses. South zone includes Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya,
Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Bhadravathi dioceses.
6.Diocesan Data collection & Blood Bank:
RYP presented to the council that if every diocese collects the data of their youth in
the diocese it would be easy to know the number of catholic youth in the region. This data
should have full information about individuals including their qualification and the job they
are looking forward to. It was also suggested that if blood group too is mentioned in the data
that would serve accessible to those who require blood in the diocese or region instantly.
The Regional secretary mentioned one of the questions asked in the bishops’ council
that what was the follow up of the youth after thirty years? Can such youth be a part of ICYM
if he/she interested? The answer is ABIDE Youth Group. This group is explicitly for senior
youth or married ones who once were part of the ICYM. Hence, requested the directors to
form this group in every diocese so that they can serve as resource persons or motivate the
present ICYM team or render necessary help whenever events are happening in the diocese.
7.Diocesan youth Sunday:
This particular point was proposed in the ICYM Council and the same was once again
mentioned in the KRYC Council to dedicate one Sunday in the year exclusively for diocesan
youth and celebrate as Diocesan Youth Sunday. The probable date could be 12 th January since
it’s also National Youth Day. Some directors expressed that since National Youth Sunday is
celebrated on the first week of August other Sundays of the year are dedicated to various
motives and themes in the diocese, it would be superfluous to have another day dedicated for
the same.
8. Civil Service Coaching:
Youth are not just meant for the church but also for the society. Youth need to grab
the opportunity in the society to make it more vibrant and to be resourceful to the catholic
community. To enable the youth in this direction the regional commission announced that the
interested youth can avail civil service coaching through St. Aloysius College, Mangalore and
Ben Vedic Centre, Kengeri. The Regional Secretary also urged the directors to find at least
one interested and capable candidate in their dioceses to get benefitted from this opportunity.
After the tea-break, the main agenda was taken up to discuss the forthcoming
Regional Youth Convention. The regional secretary took the floor and continued saying that
the 12 th Regional Youth Convention will be hosted by Mandya Diocese as he had discussed
with Rt. Rev Henry D’souza, chairman KRCBC Youth Commission, Rt. Rev Sebastian,
Bishop of Mandya and Fr. Mathew, DYD Mandya. The theme for the next convention will be
Universal Human Solidarity and Fraternity (based on the recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti).
The convenient date for the convention would be 3-6 November 2021(Diwali Holidays). The
following venues out of which anyone could be selected after sufficient discernment and
consultation: Christ University, Kengeri Campus and Maria Nikethan School Ground.
Fr. Mathew DYD of Mandya diocese briefed to the participants the geographical
background of the diocese as well as his conversation with Bishop regarding the convention.
Fr. Lourd Raj continued discussing on the convention theme song, Logo and convention
cross which are to be kept ready. The theme song should be composed in Kannada but the
chorus could be in English if need be. The registration fee for the convention was also fixed
to five hundred rupees. Some directors from mission dioceses requested that the registration
fee can be reduced to 300/-
Later Mr Sebe regional representative along with Fr. Lourd read out the 16
committees which are to be formed to make the convention successful. Since the number of
participants was less the committees could not be formed. Fr. Lourd assured that they would
be formed in the following meeting.
Thus the meeting was concluded with the vote of thanks. Mr Sebe Mathew expressed
deep sentiments of gratitude to all those participants and the organizing committee. Around
1:00 pm all moved to the refectory for lunch.
General Secretary
Ms Krithsika Vaipana