Udupi Diocese

Gadyanth Yuva Ekvot (Youth United in the Field) at Udupi Diocese

30th August, 2017: In an overall performance ICYM Kolalgiri of Kallianpur Deanery lifted the overall Championship of the “Gadyanth Yuva Ekvot”, in a specially designed slushy field oraganised by ICYM Katapady Unit in association with Udupi Deanery ICYM at Chokkadi, near the Papanashini river bank on Sunday August 27, 2017 whereas ICYM Pangla and Karkala Attur walked away with the Runners Trophies.

The whole day games in the paddy field began with a procession and the Holy Eucharistic celebration at St Vincent De Paul Church, Katapadi at 8:00 am, followed by a colourful procession to the arena of the event. Mrs. Juliet Veera D’Souza, President of Katapadi Grama Panchayat flagged off the march.

Msgr Baptist Menezes, Vicar General – Udupi Diocese along with Vinay Kumar Sorake MLA of Kaup, Kishore Alva, Executive Director of UPCL Adani Group inaugurated the programme by filling rice into the basket.

Msgr Baptist Menezes in his message congratulated ICYM Katapady for organising games in a systematic manner and said that we are all Indians, let us unite and play the games in sportsman spirit.

Vinay Kumar Sorake MLA Kaup congratulated the ICYM for introducing folk games to the new generation youth. It is reassuring to see youngsters showing interest in field sports and organizing such games. Our farmers are working in the fields day and night and providing us their produce. They are the backbone of our nation and we should respect their service. Today youth are not interested to work in the field but such games help our youth to know our traditions. Sports will give the message of unity. Youth are the asset of the country. Sports should unite the youth to work for the nation, he added.

Fr Edwin D’Souza, Director ICYM Udupi Diocese, Sharline D’Sa, President ICYM Udupi Diocese, Fr. Lawrence Cutinha, Asst. PP Moodubelle Church & Director ICYM Udupi Deanery, Ida Gibba D’Souza, former ZP Member, Sr Hilda Mascarenhas, ICYM Udupi Diocese Animator, Sr Tercita, Agnel D’Silva and others were present on the occasion.

It was a fun filled day as participants as well supporters enjoyed playing in the unique paddy fields games such as Volleyball, throwball, Relay, three-legged race, pyramid-formation, tug of war etc. The most exciting was the tug-of-war between different wards.

In the team games Tug-of-war finals ICYM Kanajar were the winners and ICYM Attur were the runners. In Relay ICYM Moodubelle were the winners and ICYM Manipal were the runners. In throwball ICYM Kuntalnagar were the winners and ICYM Perampalli were the runners. In Volley ball ICYM Nakre were the winners and ICYM Gangolli were the runners.

Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi presided over the valedictory function and concluding ceremony. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor of Udupi Diocese & Vicar Var of the Udupi Deanery, and Prashanth Jathanna, Member, Christian Development Committee Karnataka were present as the chief guests of the function.

Fr Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor of Udupi Diocese also Vicar Var of the Udupi Deanery Congratulated, thanked and praised all the youth for organizing and participating in nature loving games.

In his presidential address, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo applauded the team work of the Parish Priest, Youth and parishioners in organizing these games successfully and wonderfully. “Today out of 52 parishes 29 ICYM units participated in the games and showed their unity. I always love the youth because they are the pillars of our community. Our Udupi Diocese youth have created a record across the state with their systematic programmes. Earlier these games were being organized only by other communities but since the last four years, we too have started to introduce Tulu culture to our Catholic youth. Traditional games are not only meant for entertainment. They help in enriching the knowledge and instilling values in the lives of an individual. The games also help in personality development of an individual”, he added.

The entire Gadyanth Yuva Ekvot was wonderfully and successfully organized by ICYM Katapady Unit with the Directions of Fr Ronson R D’Souza CSC, Parish Priest, St Vincent De Paul Church, Katapady and Wilfred Lewis animator, ICYM Katpady. Lionel Pereira, President of ICYM Katpady, Leslie Vice President, Catherine Rodrigues Secretary Parish Pastoral Council, Dion D’Souza Udupi Deanery ICYM President, Vincent Fernandes Deanery ICYM animator, Walter D’Souza Diocese ICYM Animator were present. The stage programme was compered by Janet and Diana.

The event received huge response with more than 750 youth from 29 parishes of Udupi Diocese participated in the day-long Gadyanth Yuva Ekvot.