India: Jesus Youth encouraged to arise and lead others to the Lord
By Andrea Rego and Agnel Maria - Bangalore
The Jesus Youth Jaago National Conference 2023 concluded after several days of work to successfully equip young people with the zeal to be effective missionaries of the Church.
Held at Dharmaram College, Bangalore, the event inspired some 17,500 youth to be unique and unified members of one body, the Church.
The 21-24 October conference prepared young people from all over India to lead a missionary life, whilst achieving balance between one’s personal, familial, and missionary life to lead a fruitful life.
A relic of Pope Saint John Paul II that previously travelled across 28 states and visited over 500 parishes, reaching over half a million faithful, was venerated at the Jaago Conference, seeking intercession for the youth and the missions they will undertake.
Highlights of the conference
During the Keynote address, Msgr. Juan Pablo Cerrillos Hernandez, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature to India and Nepal, shared his message of assurance for the Christian Youth of India. “You have worth. You are the work of His hands,” he said.
Extending an invitation to young people to be missionaries to serve Christ and His Church, Msgr. Hernandez encouraged the youth, saying: “When Jesus asks something of you, or simply makes you face life’s challenges, He’s hoping that you would make room for Him to push you.”
After an invigorating performance by the Rex Band, Stephen Devassy, a member of Rex Band, spoke to the youth, “Fame and money is not what makes success. Success is when you inspire other individuals through your work for the glory of God.”
Mr. Devassy shared his own experience as a missionary for Christ, and offered his encouragement. “Be energetic and be enthusiastic,” he said. “Be missionaries of music, of art and use your talents for your mission.”
Rex Band is the first Catholic band from India to be invited to perform at World Youth Day in 2002 and consecutive years across over 20 countries. Several other performers and speakers addressed topics such as education, finance, work and success in life both for students and working professionals.
The “Jaago Exhibition” showcased the history of the Jesus Youth Movement, its milestones and missions to educate youth about the past and how it serves as the rock on which the Church stands strong in the Holy Spirit through faith.
The exhibition helped sensitize young people on topics such as life, marriage, children, fidelity, and sexuality, drawing inspiration from Pope Saint John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body”. This served as a representation of missionary life to empower missions and encourage the youth to be missionaries in their daily life.
“God's women: Embracing femininity”, a session focusing on women in the Church and the world, gave voice to women and their stance. They shared stories of their journey as missionaries of not only the Church but their families.
A team from YOUCAT India also conducted study groups, Q&A sessions and introduced modules for youth on the teachings of the Church and how to connect it with one’s own personal experience, in order to use it as building blocks on their spiritual journey.
Missionaries of the future
The Jaago Conference became a testimony of the working of the Holy Spirit to the world. Jesus Youth has become “the heart of the Church in India”, and has been pivotal in establishing a bridge between young people and the missionary Church to proclaim the Good News and lead a life that reflects Jesus and His teachings.
The conference gave participants a chance to understand what it means to be a missionary. Every member of the Catholic Church is called to be a missionary of Christ’s universal Church and especially shepherds to lead His people.
The Jesus Youth Council of India shared its hopes to train youth in evangelization and enable participation of youth in India and the world to be better missionaries, through humility, community and fellowship.
As the conference came to an end, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore set the stage for a future filled with hope and purpose for young people.
“We’re not here to run away from our problems, situations and conditions,” Archbishop Machado said, “We’re here to take leadership, to arise and move for the Lord.”
Through the pillars of prayer, fellowship and evangelization, young people are invited to live a sacramental life.
Jesus Youth aspires to use this spiritual self-enrichment to be missionaries who serve as a source of comfort for people through their everyday missionary activities. The youth received inspiration to be “missionaries of the Church and soldiers of the society”.
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