8 Jy FULLTIMe VOLUNTeeRS

13

HIGH PRAISE DOWN UNDER

17

JyMeLC 2012

21 GLOBAL NeWSWATCH

sEPTEmbEr 2012

a missionary movement at the service of the church

Heeding tHe SHepHerdS voice

Jesus Youth movement taking time with the shepherds for newer directions
Be Bold heralds of new evangelization urged PoPe Benedict Xvi to a grouP of BishoPs during a recently held gathering. in these days of renewed focus on transmission of christian faith, the role of BishoPs in the life and mission of a movement like ours is evergrowing. Jesus youth since its beginnings has always sought the guidance and accompaniment of these teachers of faith but the desire to bring them together on a single platform was a long cherished dream. the Jubilee conference of december 2010 was a milestone in this line. at that time, more than thirty Bishops from a number of countries, representing different localities and catholic rites stood before a young crowd of more than twenty thousand, encouraging them and proclaiming aloud the great love of the lord as well as the mother church for these young missionaries from around the globe.
CONTD. ON PAGE 3

HeArt tALk
in recent times i have witnessed a great new approach that the lord has brought into the Jesus youth. when i heard about a young man serving as a Jesus youth fulltimer in an african country who, despite several serious bouts of illness, fearlessly continued his work for one and a half years, and about some youth in the gulf countries, who offered every weekend for a whole year for a missionary volunteers contact programme in spite of their demanding and backbreaking jobs, I realised the worth and significance of the encouragement and training in the practice of volunteering that the movement has been giving from the very beginning, wherein individuals set aside a specific period of time for the service that the lord calls them to. the one year Jy fulltimers training programme has, over the last 21 years, inspired and helped numerous young people to set apart one year of their lives fully to serve the lord. moving to different countries such as from Pakistan to the gulf, from india to africa, from sri lanka to cambodia, from the us to haiti, or being sent to the northern and north-eastern states of india in the service of the lord, these Jy fulltimers have influenced and often challenged many to take up a similar yearlong volunteership. every Jy who works as a missionary volunteer, friday volunteer or sunday volunteer, setting apart every weekend of the year for missionary activities exemplifies true commitment. this voluntary commitment to offer the only holiday following 6 days of hard labour for mission is the strength and hallmark of the movement. Jy leaders who take up responsibilities assigned by the movement for a specific time period become powerful instruments in the hands of god. a father of three kids giving up a highly lucrative career to serve the movement as national co-ordinator of a country for three years, with the support of his wife, is a shining example indeed. a highly placed Jy leader in america and his wife, decided after much prayer and discernment and with the guidance of spiritual mentors that he should give up his job and commit himself as a life time volunteer to serve the movement and the church in its missionary endeavours. Similarly several other JY families filled with missionary zeal have taken a fulltime commitment to work as part of some missionary communities. these constitute some of the best practices of the movement. today Jy has many individuals and families setting apart a month or more for mission exposure. a number of university students and working professionals are also setting apart time, either for the mission exposure programmes offered by the movement or on their own initiative in order to serve the lord. the Jy Jubilee project called one month mission has led to many individuals and families going on mission to different parts of the world. recently i was with a group of Jy doctors who expressed their desire and willingness to put to good use their professional skills. listening to the plans they had made to go on mission for longer terms to some backward areas, i was struck by the great impact this would make on the church and society at large. there are many Jys who regularly take a few hours off each week to minister at orphanages, old age homes and rehabilitation centres, well convinced that this is a sure way of deepening their faith. likewise there are JY families who volunteer to visit the beneficiaries of the Outreach Child Support project, to follow them up and help them build better lives. there are many highly placed professionals and their families prepared to move to new mission areas that god assigns them for longer periods of time. the many Jy in the us making mission trips to haiti, with some of them planning to relocate and stay on for a few years are examples of this volunteering style in the movement. while Jesus youth has always encouraged and trained young people to find time for ministry along with their jobs and other responsibilities, it is becoming evident that youth transformed by faith formation opting for fulltime commitment is very essential. there is now a rising need for many such Jy volunteers willing to take up short term, long term or even lifelong, fulltime commitments. may we be able, through the Jesus youth movement, to form many more youth who are deeply rooted in christ, thereby challenging them to volunteer for such fulltime ministry that calls for a deeper commitment. this is the prayer of my heart. raiju varghese Jesus youth international co-ordinator

you are called today to renew your commitment to walking on the way of holiness, keePing uP your intense life of Prayer, encouraging and resPecting Personal ways of faith and making the most of the riches of each one, with the guidance of your PriestchaPlains and those in charge who can teach ecclesial and social coresPonsiBility. may your life Be transParent, orientated By the gosPel and illumined By the encounter with christ, loved and followed without fear. make your own and share the Pastoral decisions of the dioceses and Parishes, fostering oPPortunities for meeting and for sincere collaBoration with the other memBers of the ecclesial community, creating relations of esteem and communion with Priests for a lively ministerial and missionary community.
MeSSAge oF HiS HoLineSS pope Benedict Xvi ON THE OCCAsION OF THE sIXTH OrDINArY AssEmbLY OF THE INTErNATIONAL FOrUm OF CATHOLIC ACTION 10 AUGUsT 2012

cover StorY
heeding the shepherds voice

contd. from page 1

work hand in hand. his eminence termed the objective of the consultation as a way of discovering how much Bishops can help Jesus youth as well as how much Jesus youth can help the Bishops. he emphasised the need for such a creative collaboration for the growth of the movement as well as for the renewal of the church.

with good tidings and deeper insights

the ensuing sessions of sharing and discussions by Bishops from a variety of backgrounds proved to be moments of great appreciation for the dynamics of the movement. they were also about gratitude to the lord on the growing band of committed young missionaries, the signs of spirit-inspired creativity and new strides in the renewal of christian life in changing circumstances. concerns were also raised about some of the shortcomings of the movement and on the need for new areas of involvement. But all those who spoke were convinced of the significant role of Jesus youth for making christ and the church relevant in this fast changing and highly challenging modern socio-cultural context. each day of the meeting had times of prayer, and praise and worship especially using the Jesus youth Prayer mode. the Word of God reflections were animated by rev. fr. fio mascarenhas, former director of iccrs. there were also a few priests and key leaders of the movement present for this landmark meeting. Presentations by Dr. Edward Edezhath, Manoj Sunny and raiju varghese as well as other interventions by rev. fr. Bitaju mathew and rev. fr. thomas tharayil gave clear directions to the reflections on the Jesus Youth movement. These clarified the vision, organisational dynamics, lifestyle and mission of the movement in detail. this also provided an opportunity to revisit the core charism of the movement in todays fast changing context as well as the wider spread of the movement in recent times. Bishops also shared their different insights on formation approaches and mission, and ministry initiatives by Jesus youth in their respective regions.

the dubai Bishops consultation organised earlier this year was another step forward. on behalf of the Jesus youth international team (Jyit), its episcopal advisor, archbishop abraham viruthakulangara convened this threeday historic gathering of Bishops who have been closely associated with the movement. This first Jesus youth international Bishops consultation meeting held from 21st-23rd april 2012 at dubai was attended by eighteen archbishops and Bishops from different countries around the world. the middle east Jesus youth leaders gathering became an enlivening prelude for the Bishops meet and most of the Bishops spent a day or two with these leaders and interacted with them. the gathering started off with a lively boating through the dubai creek in which some of the invited Jy leaders from different countries joined the Bishops. this provided a very joyful time for the Bishops for informal interaction with key Jesus youth international leaders as well as those from the middle east. Bishop Paul hinder, apostolic vicar of southern arabia, was the official host of the Bishops meet and he warmly welcomed all to the land of immense opportunities. he spoke highly of the active presence of the movement in the arabian countries and noted the radical missionary initiatives Jesus youth was taking in the area. later there were a few select presentations on the mission and challenges of Jesus youth in their respective spheres along with some live examples of radical catholic witnessing in trying circumstances. in his inaugural address, his eminence ivan cardinal dias spoke of the movement of the holy spirit in a deeper way among lay groups, how they are proving to be powerful agents of evangelisation in todays church and the urgent need today for the consecrated and the laity to

listening to the spirit for newer directions

the three days of living together and lively interactions proved to be a time of new infilling and deeper insight for

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 3

everyone. every Bishop expressed his appreciation for the movement, and highlighted the areas where the movement needed to take new strides. many expressed their earnest desire for greater number of well-formed and committed Jesus youth to be available to help and direct other youth. in the local churches teenagers are accompanied until they receive the sacrament of Confirmation. After that they generally drift away from the church. many Bishops felt that this is something definite that Jesus youth can take up. helping or contributing towards the formation of priests was another area pointed out for Jesus youth involvement. the area of media was also highlighted by many where the movement should go forward in a big way. in the context of the approaching year of faith and the synod on new Evangelization, the Bishops spoke of the need to bring together outstanding lay missionaries in Jesus youth and of recording their experiences which would provide effective models for the wider church. with the new Jesus youth formation plan on the anvil, the need was specially felt for an international advisory body of Bishops to collaborate closely with the leadership of the movement. this advisory body could also provide guidance for the on-going process of canonical approval of the movement. The first international Consultation meeting of the Bishops was indeed a turning point in a variety of ways. for the movement it proved to be a time of rediscovery of the immense love and encouragement from the part of the hierarchy, and for the Bishops a deep revelation of the miraculous ways in which the spirit of god works through ordinary lay men and women. indeed the dedication of these fervent pastors to feed and tend the movement and take it to the right pastures was truly inspirational. as the year goes by, we all feel convinced that the seeds sown during these days will bear abundant harvest and the voices of these shepherds will surely render greater clarity as well as direction to the Jesus youth movement in the days to come. dr. edward edezhath

first Jesus youth international

BISHOPS CONSUltAtION

BishoPs statement at the conclusion of the consultation

1.

at the invitation of the Jesus youth international team 18 catholic Bishops from various countries came together at dubai, UAE from 21 to 23 April 2012, to reflect on the Jesus youth movement, listen to the spirit and to one another on where the lord is guiding the movement and to propose directions that the movement should take. the presence and guidance of his eminence ivan cardinal dias provided a broader perspective to the consultation.

one of the pioneering leaders and animators of the Jesus youth movement, he is currently a senior lecturer in st. alberts college, ernakulam

we gathered together representing different areas and catholic ritual traditions. we were accompanied by priests who actively serve the young generation, and we also had the joyful company of youth and lay leaders who render committed service to reach out and guide the present-day generation. their presence provided models from the social sector which we strove to address as well as the vibrant and living examples of the relevant missionary approach we sought. delightful and reflective prayer sessions, insightful presentations on the contemporary challenges, and reflections and sharing of mission experiences, questions and suggestions, mainly focusing on present-day youth culture in general and the life and mission of the Jesus youth movement in particular, formed the multi-pronged dynamics of the consultation.

2.

the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by the young generation of today and the significant contributions of the Jesus Youth movement in this area were avidly discussed. Young people are a very significant section of the church and society. their increasing number and growing presence in society and likewise the problems assailing them should awaken in everyone the desire to offer them with zeal and intelligence the Gospel ideal as something to be known and lived (Pope Paul vi). at this historic moment when the universal church is celebrating the golden Jubilee of the second vatican council, completing 20 years of the publication of the catechism of the catholic church and preparing to begin the Year of Faith and launching a deeper reflection of the New Evangelization, we have been challenged to reflect further on the context of the contemporary generation and on some of the effective approaches to bring them to a joyful and abundant life in christ. with this as the backdrop, the relevance of Jesus Youth and their specific mission in the area of evangelisation were the recurring themes of the consultation. Jesus youth movement is a precious gift of the holy spirit with an emphasis on bringing the contemporary youth to a christ-encounter and accompanying them into rootedness in

3.

4.

christian life and community. the youth to youth approach or friendship ministry that launches an ordinary person on a new walk with christ and the friendly accompaniment of a lively christian community that leads the person to christian maturity are the precious gifts that the movement is able to offer to youth hungry for friendship. the movement proposes an itinerary of holiness for an ordinary young person through its six pillars, namely, prayer, word of god, fellowship,

5.

while appreciating the effectiveness and focus of Jesus youth formation programmes and approaches, the need for reaching out to a greater number of youth, especially at the grassroots level, is the need of the hour. the newly streamlined formation plan of the movement, while integrating the spirit and direction of the catholic catechism, should attend to the need for greater maturity and missionary dynamism.

7.

6.

the diversities of languages, rites and ethnicities forming the context of the movement created the cultural ambience in which the movement grew and, surely, they should continue to enrich it. we felt the need for the movement to have greater sensitivity to the structure of the church as well as to the local situations. at the same time, there is also a need for the church to be sensitive to the dynamics and missionary charism of the Jesus youth movement. the movements proposal to complement the existing Jesus youth zone structure with a diocesan team immediately accountable to the local Ordinary and finding representation in the zonal council was thought to be a viable proposal in an inter-ritual context.

The missionary zeal and the distinctive youth guidance dynamics of the Jesus youth movement, in its depth and variety, received close attention in the consultation and also positive appreciation. An on-going reflection on the current youth trends is extremely significant for the Jesus Youth movement as well as for understanding certain of the dynamics of this movement. we realise that the Jesus youth movement is an enriching source for the wider church for updating on the signs of the times, especially on the contemporary youth context.

there is an urgent need to address the influential power of secular views of life in the modern society and the preferential mission of Jesus youth is to be a gospel leaven in the public sphere. while we appreciate the movements initiatives in this domain, we are convinced of the urgent need to encourage mature initiatives in the same line.

8.

some of the specific proposals that emerged during the consultation:

9.

a joyful relationship with the lord through prayer and word of god and emphasis on the celebration of the holy eucharist and on eucharistic adoration are the secrets of the success of Jesus youth life and mission. this should continue intact and has to be promoted with greater depth and wider reach.

10.

Jesus youth formation has borne fruit. the movement can play a significant role in assisting the formation of the seminarians and religious formees and in bringing in greater god experience and missionary zeal.

sacraments, evangelisation and option for the poor. in a youth context that is rapidly turning secular, where catechetical formation of youth practically ends with Confirmation, this Jesus youth approach to the formation of spiritual habits assumes immense significance. A variety of Jesus youth formation modules made relevant through the use of music and media prepared by the young people themselves with deep catholic conviction contributes positively to the formation of youth leadership in the church.

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 5 2009

be a very good solution. the canonical recognition as the Private association of the lay faithful, the process of which is already underway, will positively help the movement in furthering its unique mission as well as in bringing greater understanding in the wider ecclesial community.

11.

the growing emphasis on the formation of small christian communities can open up a novel sphere of greater involvement for the members of the movement to share the fruits of the formation they have received, especially for animating effective communion and for leading to relevant mission. in regions where Jesus youth shares with other similar movements areas of mission, such as youth, children and couples, there has to be greater dialogue wherever possible under the guidance of the bishop and the respective episcopal commissions.

12.

especially by organising training programmes on using media with a missionary commitment.

15.

13.

Jesus youth has moved into Jy families and has discovered unique and effective family evangelisation approaches. this has been a precious gift to the church in the context of the growing challenges that families face. this ministry of Jesus youth should be promoted and its riches shared with the wider church.

the movement is pointing towards newer forms of consecrated life for young men and women in the modern context and there is a need to reflect on developing these, opening relevant avenues for them to serve the church.

movement and to publish it in print, visual and digital formats. there is also a need, in the context of the renewed interest in New Evangelization, for sharing of Jesus youth mission experiences. hence relevant experiences of the movement should be brought to light.

18.

new challenges are put forward by the rapid and dramatic transformations that are coming over society. the church counts on the contribution of Jesus youth movement in countering these challenges with the gospel and spirit of christ. as Pope John Paul ii of happy memory remarked, one solid cause of hope [for a new springtime of christian life] is the increasing number of better trained, enthusiastic and Spirit-filled lay people, who are more and more aware of their specific vocation within the ecclesial community. the Jesus youth movement has proved successful in providing the church and the world with many such missionaries.

20.

the movement has relevant experience in the area of using social communication media quite effectively for catholic mission. while deepening this, the movement should think of offering its resources in this area to the wider church and society,

14.

Jesus youth could offer and make available their experience and expertise in preparing training modules and also in animating training sessions to foster leadership among the catholic youth.

16.

the charismatic dimension, so important for bringing in the missionary dimension in the movement, should be promoted in forms of freedom of prayer, joyful dynamism, creativity, god experience, evangelistic enthusiasm and the like.

21.

19.

17.

a gathering of the successful missionaries of Jesus youth, to listen, to learn from one another and to record the success stories could be organised in the year of faith. there is also a need to record the beginnings and growth of the Jesus youth

the real life and mission of the Jesus youth movement is very often not sufficiently understood. There is a need to share the true worth of this god-given gift. while updating, especially the church hierarchy, on the movement, this communication on the merit of the movement will take place through well-formed Jesus youth, for which the proposed streamlined formation plan should

The first Jesus youth international Bishops consultation came to a close with a renewed resolve in all of us to encourage and share these new and relevant forms of pastoral initiatives and also to form a Jesus youth international advisory council of Bishops to lend support and guidance to this growing movement for mission, by and among the contemporary generation. may the lord of the harvest help the movement to grow further and bear rich and plentiful fruit through a vibrant community life, streamlined formation and focused mission.

cardinal ivan dias, Prefect emeritus of the cong. for the evang. of PeoPles this is a miracle i witness here today; the church and so many of its Bishops from around the world committed to the cause of youth. Jesus youth, in all you do, keep your identity and originality.

of Jesus youth led me to the six pillars of the movement. this spirituality is not only for youth, but one that even we Bishops can practice.

BishoP John Bosco Panya kritcharoen of ratchaBuri, thailand this is the best apostolate that i have come across. the commitment shown by the people is inspiring and is the reason why i have fallen in love with them.

BishoP mar selvister Ponnumuthan of Punalur, india i feel the formation that the Jesus youth fulltimers receive in 40 days is much more than what happens in the lifetime of a seminarian. Jy members say and practise yes to the lord.

archBishoP aBraham viruthakulangara of nagPur, india i salute the movement for their wonderful work amongst the youth. their innovative approaches to evangelise young people and share the good news are something we can all learn from.

mission now to introduce all the youth of my parish to you. when in any doubt, ask, why am i a Jy? your answer should be because i love Jesus!

archBishoP dominic Jala of shillong, india Jesus youth started off in kerala and has now taken deep roots around the world including north-east-india, where i come from. young people reaching out to other young people is very effective.

BishoP moses m. costa of chittagong, Bangladesh what attracts me to Jy is their joyfulness, their christian virtues, generosity, love for the church and practical spirituality, while being rooted in the word of god and mission.

BishoP mar thomas chakiath of ernakulamangamaly archdiocese, india when we look back at how Jesus youth has grown and flourished, it is clear that this movement has been founded by none other than the holy spirit, the fountain of life.

BishoP mar raPhael thattil of trichur, india i am happy that Jesus youth has taken up the New Evangelization mission of the church. a new Pentecost for young people is at the threshold.

archBishoP vincent m. concessao of delhi, india the presence of Jy fulltimers has been inspiring. these youngsters are filled with creativity and driven by commitment. you can count on them to do a task and to do it well.

BishoP roBert muhiirwa of fort Portal, uganda i have seen in the Jesus youth that a lot of focus is given to the sacraments and worshipping the lord in the Blessed sacrament. continue to do so and you will soon set uganda on fire.

BishoP mar JacoB manathodath of Palghat, india Day by day I find you all getting transformed by the holy spirit to the image of christ. you are needed in this world today so that the kingdom of christ may come here and reign in all our hearts.

BishoP Joshua mar ignathios of mavelikara, india you are doing much in campuses you are keeping the faith alive and in parishes you have changed the attitude of priests towards the youth. i assure you my wholehearted support.

BishoP samuel mar irenios of trivandrum, india wanting to know more about the spirituality

archBishoP thomas menamParamPil of guwahati, india continue to search for depth at all levels - spiritually, psychologically and intellectually, be willing to befriend opponents and believe in the impossible because the lord is with us.

BishoP mar remigius inchananiyil of thamarassery, india ive noticed that once a Jy, ever a Jy. its my

BishoP Paul hinder, aPostolic vicar of southern araBia Jesus youth as i know thinks globally but acts locally. and it should be so. even in the middle east, the realities and cultures of each country in the vicariates are different and i appreciate Jesus youth for having adapted well.

BishoP ignatius mascarenhas of simlachandigarh, india what was so consoling and at the same time amazing was to see the leaders sharing their insights and how together we prayed, discussed and listened to make Jy and her mission more effective.

BishoP henry dsouza of Bellary, india Jesus youth has been a precious gift of god to the church. it has helped our youth to be better disciples of the lord, to love the church and to be modern day missionaries.

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 7

reached Bangkok today morning for the Jesus youth international fulltime volunteers training was my status update on facebook on 8th July 2012. another twenty youngsters like me from 10 different countries were to join me at the camillian Pastoral care centre for this life-changing journey. the seventh batch of Jyift was headed by a vibrant team constituting fr. ajy Jacob mooleparambil as Pastor, Baby chacko and sr. thresiamma Philip as animators, siljo thomas as co-ordinator and nidheesh Joseph. Beginning by introducing us to the purpose & main elements of the training and how we

JYift
could make it more effective through a workshop, manoj sunny then focused on shifting our paradigms. four days of spiritual retreat led by Baby chacko, george devassy and c.c. Joseph followed. Bro. Jude antoine trained and spoke to us about the importance of evangelisation and the role and life of a missionary. equipped with the requisites, we then set off for a one to one evangelisation experience. we spent two days, meeting varied people in a mall, a college and a park, ending with a prayer walk through a street in Bangkok. scripture as spirit and life was when the movement is focusing more on its missionary role after the JuBilee, it is very Promising to see youngsters from different Parts of the world steP out with one mission. through this training they have readied themselves to face any challenges that come their way. their enthusiasm and commitment is insPiring. let us Pray that they may Bear much fruit in their mission countries. SiLjo tHoMAS co-ordinator, Jyift 2012

JESUS YOUtH INtERNAtIONAl FUlltIME VOlUNtEERS tRAINING CAMIllIAN PAStORAl CARE CENtRE, tHAIlAND 8tH JUlY tO 4tH AUGUSt 2012

it was a time of tremendous growth for the ParticiPants as well as the training team. the team together would gather daily, Praying for each ParticiPant By name and for the mission country to which they would Be sent soon. the Personal encounter of each one with the team individually led to a continuous accomPaniment which helPed the grouP discover their deePer selves. Sr. tHreSiAMMA pHiLip FMM animator, Jyift 2012 introduced to us by fr. fio mascarenhas s.J. as we are called to share the gospel in cultures very much different from our own, his grace archbishop thomas menamparampil of guwahati, india, taught us to become all things to all men. various other bishops too visited us, shared their experiences and encouraged us for our willingness to serve the church. different themes like youth today, communication skills, values, gifts of the holy spirit, christian leadership, Praise and worship, leading a Prayer group, Building ministries in a new Place, leadership formation, integrity and different forms of Prayer were covered daily. raiju varghese spoke on the working styles of the movement and 21 Batches in india and 7 at the international level... it is my Privilege to Be with this ProJect from the Beginning. for us in the training team, it is always a Joy to watch these young PeoPle grow. what they Become after a month of study, Prayer, interaction and many more things is the fruit of the consolidated effort of so many committed leaders. i sincerely thank each one - team, resources and ParticiPants - for making the training what it was. BABY cHAcko animator, Jyift 2012

Jyift 2012 not only helPed deePen my faith But also rediscover it. overcoming unfamiliar situations, ParticiPating in unimaginaBle activities and eXPeriencing a new country helPed develoP my strengths, work on my weaknesses and look at things from totally different PersPectives. it was an amazing month filled with self-discoveries, challenges and faith formation. joLLY joHn, usa

meeting new PeoPle and sharing Jesus with them as Part of our one-to-one outreach was an incrediBle eXPerience. Jyift has not only PrePared me for this one year commitment But also to say yes to the lord for a life time. i now realise that it is the duty of every christian to Build the church. MArtin vincent, uae

following the training i feel that my understanding towards the catholic church and even the Jesus youth movement as a whole has widened to a great eXtent. i was immensely motivated By the lifestyle of the other ParticiPants which encouraged me to achieve refinement in several areas of my own life. Anju Ann ABrAHAM, uk as a youth, Being cut off from the world for 28 days wasnt an easy thing. But during this time god most imPortantly taught me to Be silent from within and listen to him. i also learnt to look at things differently and to imagine things like i never did Before. jeSSicA pererA, sri lanka

Commitment and Dr. Edward Edezhath took up sessions on church history, history of the Jy movement, the charism of the movement and Jesus youth spirituality. the 3-day theatre workshop by leo thaddeus was a special time of learning and self-discovery. on 4th august we pledged to follow the footsteps of christ by growing in christian faith and drawing strength from the sacraments of the church. all of us volunteers have now been placed across countries like haiti, singapore, sudan, thailand, sri lanka, uk, uae, india, uganda and cambodia for our year-long commitment. soumya simon, india

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 9

different countries, diverse backgrounds and varied cultures yet these posed no difficulty for the young people of Jesus youth international exposure Programme 2012 as they came together in a spirit of unity. held at the camillian Pastoral care centre, lat krabang, thailand from the 18th to 28th of July 2012, the days provided the 19 participants with an unforgettable time of learning, sharing, praying and living together. the third international exposure Programme had participants from uk, singapore, cambodia, laos,

im haPPy to Be associated once again with JyieP. i met many viBrant youth and witnessed different kinds of sPirituality. everyone was filled with the sPirit of evangelisation and the ten days have actually enriched my sPirituality as well and oriented my Priesthood towards a Broader concePt of evangelisation. fr. cherian nereveetil Pastor, JyieP 2012

JYiep
JESUS YOUtH INtERNAtIONAl EXPOSURE PROGRAMME CAMIllIAN PAStORAl CARE CENtRE, tHAIlAND 18tH tO 28tH JUlY 2012

uae, nigeria and india. starting off by helping the participants to shift their personal paradigms, a retreat led by the training team followed. various modules were covered thereon with topics like discipleship, knowing the Jesus youth movement, introduction to liturgical elements, richness of the catholic faith and evangelisation. the participants were privileged to have resource persons like Dr. Edward Edezhath, Manoj Sunny, Raiju varghese, c.c. Joseph, Baby chacko, alex njavally, dony Peter, siljo thomas, toms michael and subin Jacob to conduct the different sessions. the interaction with archbishop thomas menamparampil of

the ParticiPants had a lot of enthusiasm and showed great unity insPite of their diverse Backgrounds. they have Been deePly challenged and have had a great transformation. i hoPe they will grow into committed disciPles and fervent missionaries. i have Been Blessed to Be a Part of this event. rodneY pereira co-ordinator, JyieP 2012

i am filled with wonder when i think of how god gathered us, who live thousands of miles aPart, to fill us with his love. the love we in turn shared as Brothers and sisters cannot Be Put into words. JyieP 2012 was a testament of how god calls his disciPles to work for his kingdom. nikhil george, singaPore

guwahati, india was an added blessing. the training was coordinated by a team comprising of fr. cherian nereveetil as the Pastor and rodney Pereira as the co-ordinator. workshops, group activities and games were some of the different dynamics used to expose the participants to the treasures of catholic faith and the Jesus youth lifestyle. there were plenty of opportunities for self-discovery, fellowship building and deepening in prayer. a visit to some less privileged children close by and spending time with them was an eye-opening experience for the group. the participants were deeply moved by this occasion. moreover there was a lot to learn it was wonderful to learn more aBout the Jesus youth movement which is a great Platform to grow in christ. the Programme really helPed me to change my negative attitudes and derive the strength to accePt these changes. even though it was only ten days, i eXPerienced a great fellowshiP which helPed me to grow sPiritually. dannY Joseph dominic, uae

it was a Blessed time esPecially to know more aBout the movement and to hear from those leaders who have Been there since the Beginning. i think the eXPerience of JyieP 2012 will always remain very close to my heart. this eXPosure will certainly helP me in my walk with the lord. feroz diYali, india

from each other every day and get inspired, enriched and motivated. on the concluding day, the eucharistic celebration and the commitment ceremony were presided over by archbishop thomas menamparampil. the participants have now returned to their respective countries with a clearer vision and inspired hearts for mission.

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 11

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2013

23 - 28 JulY 2013, rio de Janeiro, BraZil

GO AND MAKE DISCIPlES OF All NAtIONS (Mt. 28:19)

world Youth daY 2013

23-28 JUlY 2013 At RIO
Official registrations have started on the WYD Rio site. To know more about the registration procedure and other details, visit their website: http://www.rio2013.com/en a logo designed by gustavo huguenin, a 25-year-old from Brazil, bringing together predominant elements of Brazil like the image of Christ the redeemer on Corcovado Mountain and the colours of the Brazilian flag was selected as the official logo for WYD 2013 from among hundreds of entries. this simple yet eye-catching logo also has the WYd cross in white, the different nations represented by the forms and the disciple represented by a heart, for the disciple is one who carries Jesus in his heart. Be a part of the Jesus Youth delegation @ WYd 2013

Jesus Youth international gathering

28-29 JUlY 2013
a regular feature at several WYds, this gathering will see Jesus Youth members coming together from different corners of the world to celebrate as one big family.

mission amazon
13-19 JUlY 2013
Begin the WYd experience with a mission exposure programme in the villages near the amazon forests.

mission rio

30 JUlY 3 AUGUSt 2013

a mission exposure opportunity meant mainly for leaders, these days will be spent in the shanty-towns of rio de Janeiro. For regular updates and information check the official Jesus Youth website: www.jesusyouth.org You can also email us at jyglobal@jesusyouth.org

Youth arise festival

20-22 JUlY 2013 At CANAS

organised by Youth arise international, this festival has been attended by Jesus Youth pilgrims for over 12 years. it remains one of the most enriching and edifying experiences of travelling for WYd.

high praise down under

CeLeBRATING JeSUS ACROSS AUSTRALIA
We had just finished our final song at sydney and were spending time with the audience. a lady walked up, greeted me and said my friend, who was struck by a painful personal tragedy, received a special gift of hope during the time of worship this evening. thank you. as we praised god and prayed with her, it struck us again that this tour had been a succession of such experiences - every single day. every time we journeyed together as rexband, in spite of all our weaknesses, struggles, inadequacies and fears, the grace of Jesus would shine. for us, it was a continued reminder and affirmation that what mattered was not the band, the music, the lights or the performance, but the one whom we carried in our name - christus rex, christ the king. as usual, this tour across six cities of australia - canberra, sydney, Brisbane, adelaide, melbourne and Perth - was nothing less than a miracle. after several changes of schedules and dates, finally, by the
sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 13

power of prayers, rexbands second mission in australia came true. with six concerts across six cities and a music workshop - all in just a fortnight - this australia tour was one of the most hectic among all of our journeys. yet when we look back now, more than the struggles or the strain, it is the fellowship, the joy, the insights and the experiences that come to mind. here are a few of them.

this was our most hectic schedule till date and as i set out from germany, i was worried whether this would Be a time of much strain as we had to travel Practically everyday without much rest. Besides, i also had the added resPonsiBility of Being the Bassist as our vocalist and Bassist hector was not aBle to travel with us. now looking Back i feel this tour was for me the most relaXed - all through i enJoyed Being carried around By him. our god is truly an awesome god. george ettiYiL, reXBand

to travel with the reXBand to australia, i had to set aside a world tour with a renowned international musician. yet, i was very sure that it was the right decision and god confirmed it through the eXPeriences of his Presence everywhere we went. the music workshoP where we met a diverse grouP of christian musicians was esPecially memoraBle. Beyond the music or the Performances, it was truly a ministry led By the holy sPirit. ALpHonS joSepH, reXBand

for me, every triP with the reXBand is a Joyful triP with Jesus. the australia tour was also a time away from my stressful Professional showBiz career. this time, traveling with my wife, i found some much-needed family time too. though taking a Break was difficult, the lord Blessed us aBundantly. we saw the work of god Before our eyes. seeing PeoPle Being touched and transformed, i too was challenged to draw even more closer to Jesus. StepHen devASSY, reXBand

1. THE UNsEEN sTrUGGLEs

in every city we went, we met Jesus youth, their families and friends, who had been working days and nights for months, praying for the band, the concert and the audience. many of the organisers had set aside their family vacations so that they could be present during the rexband mission. it is their silent sacrifices that bore fruit during this tour.

every concert was a Powerful eXPerience of grace. i was Personally insPired in all my encounters with the organisers - By their conviction, commitment and selfless service. BeenA MAnoj, reXBand Just a word of thanks and congratulations on a wonderful night. your organisation and PreParation Paid off for a well-run & sPirit-filled event. i Pray that the fruits of this night will encourage a growth in the Jesus youth. i look forward to working to helP Jesus youth grow in the archdiocese.

2. THE JOY OF wOrkING CLOsELY wITH THE CHUrCH AND OTHEr mOvEmENTs
most of the rexband concerts were organised in cities where the movement is just beginning to grow. each rexband concert was thus, in a way, a new beginning for Jesus youth. and in every city, the movement was supported and encouraged by the church, the Bishops, the priests and the leaders of other movements in australia, making the proclamation of Jesus a beautiful celebration of our catholic fellowship.

anita Parker, director of catholic youth ministry, archdiocese of Perth

music, the young peoples need for the healing, loving power of Jesus was so obvious that it inspires us to continue working with new bands and musicians - so that they too will share the love of Jesus to the youth in different ways. SHeLTON PINHeIRO, reXBand

everything was very nice and the Powerful work of god was seen. thanks a lot for your great concerns for the kingdom of god. wish you all the Best. god Bless you.
fr. fernando, melBourne

it was the most memoraBle concert i have ever Been to. their songs and their Performance Brought life to all Present there. each and every song insPired me.
ramya samuel, sydney

i came in to see how an indian Band would Play the music in english, But i was shocked By their Performance - it was very youthful while Being meaningful.
James Jacques, canBerra

3. EXPErIENCEs bEYOND bOrDErs

rexband, with its ethnic styles drawn from the indian subcontinent was definitely a different musical experience for many of the australian audience. yet, the response was more overwhelming than ever. moreover, beyond the

it was an entertaining, thought Provoking and engaging eXPerience. the whole Band was Just Brilliant. i hoPe they come Back to australia really soon. sarah traynor, BrisBane the humility of the Band surPrised me. they do it all for Jesus. their show was truly insPirational and an eye oPener. god Bless the reXBand.
fr. francis Perumadan, adelaide

a place where i will feel like praying and have ample time to pray, where i will experience the movement in a completely new light and grow in ways i never imagined. these were some of the thoughts with which i set off for the Jesus youth international leaders training 2012 held in Bangkok, thailand. the fourteen days, from 9th - 22nd July, however revealed that the lords plans were indeed more glorious like the sun as compared to the tiny grains of sand, which were my expectations. with powerful intercession pouring in from all over the world, twenty-seven

participants from ten different countries came together as the fifth batch of the leaders training programme. the tone of the days was set with a keynote address by c.c. Joseph, the co-ordinator of the international trainings, who called upon us to be hardcore missionary leaders! what followed were sessions that were moving and powerful. we were also assigned responsibilities for each day, led to seek forgiveness and to forgive and constantly reminded that discipline should be at the core of our very being. we took up case studies of contemporary leaders & biblical leaders, celebrated and

JYilt
JESUS YOUtH INtERNAtIONAl lEADERS tRAINING CAMIllIAN PAStORAl CARE CENtRE, tHAIlAND 9tH tO 22ND JUlY 2012

it was yet another thrilling time for me to Be with the young leaders of the movement from different Parts of the world. their dreams and vision for the movement and their commitment to the cause of faith and the church are amazing. what touched me the most was their sincerity, oPenness, docility and enthusiasm to learn and Be moulded. fr. BitaJu mathew Pastor, Jyilt 2012

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 15

it was an enriching eXPerience to Be surrounded By 27 Passionately committed leaders who are convinced of their missionary call and leading the movement in various Places across the world. their oPenness to learn, courage to take Bold & decisive stePs to develoP their god-given gifts to the fullest and their efforts to Build one another uP is Praiseworthy. suBin JacoB co-ordinator, Jyilt 2012 while attending the training in thailand, each session helPed me realise the Beauty of gods creation and that he is with us all the time. uPon my return, i have recognised many gifts within me which i need to nurture and aPPly in my day to day life as a leader. i feel Blessed to have Been a Part of Jyilt 2012. prashanth kumar, india

the days at Jyilt catered to my mind, Body and soul alike. the fellowshiP was Beautiful and i have Been motivated to sPread my Jesus eXPerience to more PeoPle. as a leader i Became aware of my weaknesses and learnt how to overcome them. my eXPectation hereon is not Just to Be a good leader But a great leader. shanuka perera, sri lanka

learnt more about the holy eucharist, renewed our thirst for the word of god with renowned Bible scholar, fr. fio mascarenhas s.J., and ended our days in adoration before the lord in the Blessed sacrament. through it all the essence of our Jesus youth movement shone through. leaders from all over the world could be seen building each other up, hearing each others personal stories, and being the family the good lord intended us to be. we were also privileged to have the constant presence, guidance and encouragement of senior leaders like raiju varghese, manoj sunny, dr. Edward Edezhath, George Devassy, Baby chacko and fr. Bitaju mathew, the Pastor for Jyilt 2012.

Jyilt challenged me to re-look at my life, my Beliefs and my Priorities and align them to christ. i was constantly reminded that the Beautiful things i was learning and eXPeriencing had to Be solidified through daily decisions to follow christ. i take home this simPle yet Powerful message: that the call to leadershiP is first a call to holiness. mimi pukulakatt, canada

Jyilt12 was a time of transformation in me. it helPed me understand that whatever we do for god is not for our merit But is our duty. the training has definitely led me to reinforce my convictions so as to run tirelessly for his kingdom. no looking Back... JosY mathew, sa

the commissioning ceremony on the last day ushered in the beginning of a great recognition and need to respond. i recall a question posed to us by our co-ordinator, subin Jacob: do you realise where the most precious gift on earth is? his answer, it is in the graves of all the cemeteries of the world. This is where you will find priceless ideas, dreams, and plans that never came to fruition because the people did not recognise the gift they were given by the lord. these words are etched in our hearts as we head out to make the most of every moment and live out our purpose, beautifully re-iterated by his excellency Bishop silvio siripong of the diocese of chanthaburi, thailand, Be a good missionary for the lord. diBin PookomBil, usa

strive to be a living page of the gospel this was the challenge thrown to the participants of the Jesus youth middle east leaders conference 2012, by his excellency Bishop Paul hinder, apostolic vicar of southern arabia in his inaugural address. and over the days, this challenge continued to resonate in the hearts of the 170 key leaders participating in this conference held from 19th to 21st april 2012 in dubai. this time together helped the leaders who were representing the various countries of the middle east including uae, qatar, oman, saudi arabia, kuwait, and Bahrain to deeply realise the need to reach out to the unreached people, communities and cultures with the gospel. the sessions throughout the Conference too reflected and explored the same thought. the prominent resource speakers at the conference included most rev. archbishop thomas menamparampil from guwahati,

india, who in his thought-provoking session urged everyone to combine the bold proclamation of the gospel with sensitivity and respect towards the culture and needs of the people. a highlight of his talk was the invitation to whisper the gospel to the soul of asia, i.e. to build and rely on the depth of a relationship to whisper or share the good news. several key Jesus youth resource persons like raiju varghese, dony Peter, manoj sunny, dr. edward Edezhath, P.V. Jojo, et. al. also addressed the gathering. their sessions mostly revolved around the context of the Jesus youth movement - the role, relevance, mission, spirituality, challenges faced, concerns, future possibilities, etc. the sessions were followed by smaller workshops where the points taken up were further broken down to the regional /country level. a summary of these discussions held at the workshops

was assimilated and then presented to the whole assembly. there was time alloted for the national teams of all the six participating countries to present a brief report on the Jy ministries in their respective areas. testimonies too were shared by individuals who were instrumental in starting key initiatives like the hindi ministry, Bible distribution, missionary training Programme and the 5-minute Prayer groups (5mPg) among the teens. as this conference preceeded the Bishops consultation meeting, it was a blessing to have all the Bishops who had arrived to attend the consultation meeting address the Jymelc participants as well. the presence of his eminence ivan cardinal dias drew great applause and excitement from the audience. he expressed his joy at seeing so many young Jy leaders and advised them to deepen their roots and build a good foundation in order to soar

JYmelc 2012
JESUS YOUtH MIDDlE EASt lEADERS CONFERENCE 19tH tO 21St APRIl 2012, DUBAI

it was an enlightening eXPerience. the sharing of views and visions By different leaders from the middle east, the many testimonies, and the talks By the BishoPs were all very insPiring. i Pray that this conference will Be a historical event in Jesus youth and will Bear fruits in other cultures and communities. FAdI QASTOON, UAe

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 17

this conference encouraged me to come uP with many good ideas to Break the Barriers in aPProaching other cultures and communities in the middle east. the energetic youthfulness of christ was reflected in the Presence of numerous BishoPs. AJISH SeBASTIAN, BAHRAIN the conference made me more aware of the different initiatives haPPening across the middle east. i also got a Better understanding of the maJor shift in the Jesus youth formation Plan. the Presence of cardinal ivan dias, who Blessed us with the relics of Bl. John Paul ii and Padre Pio, was a wonderful surPrise for us all. CyRIL K. ANTONy, KUWAIT

the relics of Blessed John Paul ii and Padre Pio which was indeed a very solemn and memorable moment of the conference. six focus areas for Jesus youth middle East were identified and established towards the end of the conference. these include formation and specialised trainings, outreaches, focus groups, intercession, building relationships and mission exposure. africa is the mission centre adopted by Jy middle east and much progress has already taken place in this regard. the logo for mission africa was launched at the leaders conference.

a penny box in which families can put aside small contributions in order to financially support the mission was also unveiled. A fitting finale to this Conference in the middle east region was the concluding holy mass at st. marys church chapel, dubai. most rev. archbishop abraham viruthakulangara who was the main celebrant along with other Bishops and priests celebrated this mass, which Bishop Paul hinder referred to in his introduction as one of historic importance, being the first Mass in the UAE to be concelebrated by so many Bishops. P. v. JoJo, uae

the sessions made me realise how secure i am in my comfort zone and how much i needed to get out and go to the ends of the earth to sPread his love and goodness to all. this has definitely kindled the fire of mission in me. i hoPe and Pray that i will keeP it Burning and take the Bold steP to Be a missionary. VAN SANTIAGO, QATAR upwards. he further urged them to never forget their youthfulness - not in age but at heart. in the q/a session that followed, his eminence welcomed the questions posed by the leaders and delighted them with the wisdom of his answers. he also gladly obliged by singing a song in italian when requested. he saved the best for the last by blessing the participants with

i have Benefited immensely By this conference. it has Brought clarity and given me the confidence to Become fearless in serving the lord. i was Blessed to Be among the rePresentatives from oman. SeBASTIAN, OMAN

it was wonderful to hear aBout the initiatives haPPening in other countries and to see how the sPirit is leading the movement into a new Phase. this conference ignited a zeal in me to have a Personal mission. i was deePly motivated By the commitment of leaders in the region. RIJO, SA

JYiat
two weeks starting 24th July 2012 saw the camillian Pastoral care centre at Lat Krabang, Thailand host the fifth Jesus youth international animators training. twenty-one animators, representing countries like india, uae, uk, uganda, thailand, cambodia, sri lanka and australia were present. the programme commenced with a growth retreat where the participants were led into a deeper intimacy with god. this was followed by nine days of intense training incorporating meditation, workshops, case studies and testimonies. knowing the Jesus

JESUS YOUtH INtERNAtIONAl ANIMAtORS tRAINING CAMIllIAN PAStORAl CARE CENtRE, tHAIlAND 24tH JUlY tO 4tH AUGUSt 2012

the whole training was a welcome time of reflection and Joy; time sPent listening and reflecting, time out from active ministry and a time of growth. may god continue to Bless Jesus youth as it grows and sPreads, may this family Be one in the lord. fr. alex vickers, australia

youth movement in depth, Basics of youth animation, using charisms in ministering, communicating with the youth, mentoring, Pastoring, Building leadership and integrity were some of the various topics thrown up for discussion and learning. sessions on evangelisation of cultures by his grace archbishop thomas menamparampil sdB, archbishop of guwahati, india, were cherished by all. each of the sessions had an interactive dimension which

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 19

the training was awesome and it helPed me understand my call Better. the dedication shown By the team and the fellowshiP and camaraderie shared By the attendees from different Parts of the world made me aware once again of the Joy of doing gods work. lucY goldwYn, india

these days have Been grace-filled for me, esPecially the time sPent in hearing and meditating uPon the word of god. all the sessions were truly helPful. it was a great crowd to Be with and all were very considerate and kind to one another. fr. Binu palakapallY, uk

the animators training was a refining eXPerience for me. it was really sPirit-filled, enlightening; cleansing and insPiring. i received a lot of new ideas, knowledge and a fresh anointing of the holy sPirit. sr. maria Jees, india

i had a very good eXPerience at the training and with the organising team. all of them are living eXamPles of integrity and christian witness. i thank them for all the effort Put into making this training a great success. sr. pornthip, camBodia

this has Been a life-changing and motivating Journey for me, Both emotionally and sPiritually. i can no longer take my call for granted. i have understood deePly the need to live a life centered on christ. patricia kYeBamBe, uganda

the training was altogether a different eXPerience for me. it was wellorganised and well-managed. the sessions, the resources and the fellowshiP were all of much helP to me. sherrY aBraham, sa

aimed at helping the participants understand more effectively their role in youth animation and in the changing realm of todays youth. emphasis was constantly laid on accompanying the youth, mentally and spiritually, as opposed to being mere physical companions. they were also made aware of some wrong approaches that animators adopt while dealing with present day youth. the group comprising of priests, religious sisters and laity brought with them a wide experience base, giving a balanced perspective to these dialogues. the days also saw senior leaders from the movement like dr. edward Edezhath, Manoj Sunny, Tomas michael, alex njavally, c.c. Joseph, dony Peter, Baby chacko, raiju varghese and Jomy abraham helping

the participants recognise their call as animators, elders and pastors and understand the challenges that lay ahead of them. the programme was formulated keeping in mind the need for each participant to have sufficient time for reflection, self-discovery and fellowship building. a strong sense of unity was evident across the training programme with the participants coming together, showing a readiness to become agents of transformation while supporting one another in this divine call. the daily eucharistic celebration and adoration added to strengthen everyones resolve. the training programme came to a close with the commissioning ceremony and holy mass on 4th august 2012.

Jyiat helPed me to deePen my religious commitment and my love for the Jy movement, and to recognise my Jy call within my religious call. i am going Back to sPread his kingdom in my country esPecially to the youth in sri lanka and all over the world. sr. anastasia, sri lanka

gLoBAL neWSWAtcH

European Leaders Training, Switzerland

national Youth team Meeting, australia

kuWAit National Conference The fifth National Conference Missito based on the theme of Mission, was organised at the City Cathedral on 25 feb. 2012. Manoj sunny was the resource person for this programme, which had more than 850 participants from various parts of the country. youth exposure Programme a youth exposure programme was conducted at the Carmel school from 30 dec. to 2 Jan. nearly forty youth participated in this time of formation and exposure to the Jesus Youth movement. Jericho Prayer a Jericho prayer was conducted through the busy streets, highways, residential localities, camp settlements, hospitals, jails, deserts, beaches, parishes, Govt. offices, work areas, etc. across the region from morning till afternoon on 2 feb. 2012. More than 120 participants came together to conduct the prayers. Bethzetha A one day programme - Bethzetha, was organised for medical professionals at the City Cathedral on 13 Jan. 2012. dr. ray (uae) was the resource person for the programme. around 200 medical professionals attended the event, and gave serious thought to their profession and to the good that can be done through it.
Crossroads 2012, Germany

Family Celebration nearly 150 Jesus Youth came together as one family at the Jahra parish on 16 dec. special time was dedicated for the kids ministry during the event, which ended with holy Mass. dinoy david gerMAnY Jy Recollection day 2011 around 10 JY leaders participated in the one day recollection led by Michael papenkordt (iCpe) on 10 dec. at franz-Xaver haus, Mannheim. Flash JY germany reached out to around 120 candidates preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation in Wissen (Sieg) with a half day programme - Flash which concluded with holy Mass. Crossroads 2012 around 20 people participated in the weekend initial retreat Crossroads from 23 to 25 March at scalabrini haus, Kln, led by Michael and his wife patricia papenkordt from the iCpe Mission. anil israel AuStrALiA Hours of Grace a 100-day round-the-clock eucharistic adoration covering different parishes across 7 cities in australia was conducted from 18 feb. to pentecost sunday - 27 May 2012, in

preparation for the celebration of the Year of Grace from Pentecost 2012 to Pentecost 2013, announced by the australian Catholic Bishops Conference (aCBC). the main focus during this eucharistic adoration was to intercede for the increase in Religious Vocations in Australia. Growth Retreat a growth retreat with 60 participants was held at the goyura retreat Centre in Melbourne from 1 - 4 dec. fr. fio Mascarenhas, sr. renu silvano, and JY international Co-ordinator Raiju Varghese were the resource persons for the programme. National youth Team Meeting The first meeting of the National Youth Team was held at the goyura retreat Centre in Melbourne from 24 to 25 March 2012. it was a time of sharing and discussion regarding the mission and vision of the ministry. Mayrose abraham Sri LAnkA Step-up A series of five programmes named Step-up was conducted in a span of 2 months. the main aim of these 2-day programmes was to prepare the participants for the dtp. the theme for the event was Step-up - You are called to be saints. The initiative and support extended by Maria Jose and Kusal de Mel - the current fulltime volunteers in sri lanka was much appreciated.
new service team, sri lanka

Missito National Conference, Kuwait

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 21

gLoBAL neWSWAtcH

lenten adoration 2012, italy

Couples Meet, Canada

March for Life, USA

Reconstitution of Service Team In the presence of the Intl Co-ordinator and the Jesus Youth pastor, a new service Team was elected following the Leaders training programme. shanuka perera was appointed as the Co-ordinator while Kamal perera will serve as the assistant Coordinator. fr. Bonnie fernandopulle, rector of St. Sebastians College, presided over the anointing payer and commissioning of the new team. discipleship Training Programme a discipleship training programme was held from 10 - 15 April at St. Sebastians College, Moatuwa. there were 19 enthusiastic participants from 4 different dioceses across sri lanka for this training conducted by subin Jacob from india. fr. daya darshana and fr. gehan gunathilake together with other religious and lay animators were present throughout the programme. ravindha silva itALY Outreach for youth Jesus Youth roma conducted an outreach for the youth of the Mary Queen of the apostles Church, rome on 19 feb. 2012. it was for the first time that 15 young people of the parish (including 3 seminarians) came together for such an event. fr. Chilton together with Jesus Youth members from the Campus and teens ministries animated the group for the day.
discipleship training programme, sri lanka

Lenten Adoration 2012 a 24-hour eucharistic adoration was initiated by the Jesus Youth during lent. the adoration, held at the Mary Queen of the apostles parish in rome, began every saturday evening and concluded the following evening. Many people participated in this initiative, even coming in at late hours during the night. the adoration time was spent in praying the rosary, the divine Mercy Chaplet, the liturgy of the hours, etc. the lenten adoration concluded on palm sunday with a eucharistic procession in the streets around the parish. Pilgrimage to Lanciano & Ortona on 9 april 2012, a pilgrimage was organised to the Basilica of st.thomas the apostle, where the mortal remains of the saint rest. after celebrating the holy eucharist at the tomb, the group with 60 participants proceeded to Lanciano, where the first Eucharistic miracle has been recorded. it was a memorable experience for all as they renewed and re-dedicated themselves to be missionaries at the service of the Church. Sunil Varghese cAnAdA Something Beautiful an initial level programme was conducted on 3 March at the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church, hamilton. nearly 70 youth from different universities attended this programme, which was led by Binu and princy from Chicago.
Christ in Victory, Bangladesh

Couples Meet a one day family retreat based on the theme Challenges in Christian family relationships and parenting was conducted on 14 april at Mississauga. there were nearly 450 participants including youth. the programme was led by fr. Kurian puramadathil. steve rebello and liz rebello were the other key speakers. a health Care ministry was also formed with lijesh Joseph as the Co-ordinator. shone Bobben BAngLAdeSH Christ in Victory on 16 dec., a group of young people and upcoming leaders attended a one day programme - Christ in Victory at the Bethani ashram in dhaka. the main resource person for the day was siljo Thomas, JY Intl Team member. At the conclusion of the event, a Jesus Youth core team was formed. John tripura uSA March for Life Jesus Youth from all over the country gathered at Washington dC to attend the national Mass for life at the Basilica of the immaculate Conception. everyone also participated in a march from the Capitol building to the supreme Court to raise
Leaders Training, USA

gLoBAL neWSWAtcH

national resource training, india

Exult 2012, New Zealand

awareness about the threats to life that exist today. This is the second March for Life that Jesus Youth of america has participated in. Family Retreat, Philadelphia A two-day seminar on Marriage and Parenting was held at the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church, philadelphia from 26 - 27 dec. the attendees included families from philly, south Jersey, delaware, pittsburg and ohio. the resource persons were sindhu and sunil nadarajan. Southeast Region Gathering & Reconstitution families and youth from florida and georgia came together from 18 - 19 feb. at palm harbor, fl. the gathering concluded with the reconstitution of both the southeastern family and Youth teams. Annual Jesus youth Retreat from 29 dec. to 1 Jan., about 70 young Catholics from the northeast, Mid-atlantic and southeast regions gathered at the loyola house of retreats in Morristown, new Jersey for the annual Jesus Youth retreat. Short Term Mission Trip, Haiti the second batch comprising of 10 volunteers went to haiti from 17 - 24 March to work in collaboration with the scalabriniani fathers and Caritas in Veritas International to help rebuild the local community, just outside of port-au prince, which was ravaged by the earthquake of January 2010.
Crucis Singapura, Singapore

Guys Bootcamp, New york a group of nine men came together from 1 - 4 Jan. to spend time in prayer, daily Mass and deepen their understanding of their role as men of god. during these days they also volunteered in a homeless shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity and a soup kitchen run by the Community of franciscan friars of the renewal. Leaders Training Programme fifteen families and twelve youth participated in a 2-day Leaders Training held from 4 - 5 Feb. the programme gave the participants a deeper understanding of the movement and possible approaches to sharing their faith with others. Midwest Jy young Adults Retreat nineteen young adults ranging from those in college to those who are working attended a retreat focused on deepening their faith from 13 - 16 January. princy abraham SingApore Launch of Jy Circles JY Circles - a one year long formation programme based on the six pillars of Jesus Youth, was launched on 8 Jan. 2012 at the Choice Retreat Centre. The very first Circles gathering was also held on the same day. there are nearly 100 Jesus Youth in 15 circles (small groups), undergoing this formation. every small group will meet four times to

complete one module of the study material developed specially for this formation. there will be a central gathering every alternate month under the guidance of fr. david reegon, the formation in-charge. Jesus Net Jesus Net the Central Gathering of JY singapore was held on 18 feb. 2012 at the risen Christ Church hall, toa payoh. dr. Mathew, animator of JY singapore and resource person for the gathering, led a workshop on personal prayer. Crucis Singapura Crucis Singapura, an initiative begun last year which was welcomed by the Church in singapore, was held this year too. nearly 85 JYs participated in this bare-footed walk across singapore on 31 March 2012, meditating on the passion of the lord and praying the Way of the Cross. the members divided themselves into groups and then started their walk from the four corners (north, south, east & West) of the island nation towards the centre - the novena Church, thus marking a big sign of the Cross across singapore. shimy stephen tHAiLAnd Building Houses for the Poor Jesus Youth and udontani diocese of north east thailand organised a joint initiative with habitat for humanity, an international
Chalo Madhya Pradesh, India

Building houses for the poor, thailand

sEPTEmbEr 2012 PAGE 23

gLoBAL neWSWAtcH

Exult 2012, New Zealand

national family gathering, uK

Talent Gallery & Resource Training, UK

ngo, with the intention of building a house for a poor family. thirty youth from various dioceses across Thailand and five youth from Laos Thailands neighbouring country participated in this unique project conducted from 2 to 4 March 2012. patrick lourdu neW ZeALAnd exult 2012 Exult 2012 was held at Narrows Park in hamilton from 10 to 13 april 2012. there were about 60 participants of different nationalities from various regions of new Zealand. the Jesus Youth international assistant Coordinator, dony peter was the main resource person for the programme. it was a blessing to have Most rev. denis Brown, Bishop of hamilton celebrate holy Mass on one of the days of the event. soji Joseph indiA Fulltime Volunteers Training from 27 May to 1 July, the 21st batch Jesus Youth Fulltime Volunteers Training was held at the alpha pastoral Centre, edakochi with 34 participants from across the country. following their Commitment ceremony, the participants were taken to a village in nagpur for a mission exposure, after which they have been placed in different mission areas. National Resource Training the national resource training was conducted from 5 to 13 May 2012 at the Archbishops house in nagpur. the training which was conducted in hindi, had participants from Maharashtra, Madhya pradesh, new delhi, uttar pradesh, punjab and Jharkhand. National evaluation Meeting 2012 the national advisory Body Meeting and the national evaluation Meeting 2012 was held at St. Pius X Seminary, Mumbai from 8 10 June. around 250 key leaders of the movement from different parts of india participated in the evaluation Meeting. this was preceeded by the national advisory Body Meeting, in which nearly 80 key leaders, animators and pastors

of the movement participated. the programme was blessed by the presence of Most rev. agnello gracias, auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai and Most rev. thomas elavanal MCBs, Bishop of Kalyan. Regional Co-ordinators Meeting The JY India Regional Co-ordinators Meeting was held in February at the Archbishops house, nagpur. the Co-ordinators and assistant Co-ordinators from various regions participated in this two-day meeting. Chalo Madhya Pradesh twenty-three teens from 10 different states of india participated in a mission exposure from 11 to 27 May 2012. following a retreat and training at the st. aloysius higher secondary polipather, Jabalpur, these teens were sent to the Chargaon Mission parish. antony a.J. uk National Family Gathering the national family gathering was held on 4 february 2012 in nottingham. it was a one day programme aimed at bringing together all JY families in the uK to discuss future plans. Raiju Varghese was the main resource person. Talent Gallery & Resource Training Talent Gallery and a Resource Training was held simultaneously at Malvern hills outdoor education Centre, Malvern, Worcestershire from 16 to 19 Feb. 2012. The Talent Gallery focused on young people from different parts of uK with a desire to use their talents for the lord. shelton pinheiro, alphons Joseph, Beena Manoj and saju Cherian from the rexband led this group through the sessions. a group of 25 participants from across europe attended the resource training led by Manoj sunny and C.C. Joseph. Awakening Currently in its third year, Awakening is a 100 day round-the-clock eucharistic adoration from ash Wednesday till pentecost sunday, initiated and undertaken by Jesus Youth uK. parishes across uK host this continuous adoration. Most rev. peter doyle, Bishop of northampton, celebrated the concluding Mass.

One-day Family Programme, London JY london organised a one day programme for families living in south east london on 10 March at St. Matthews Church, Norwood. Fifteen families including twelve kids participated. youth Retreat, Sunderland a youth retreat was held in the north east region of uK from 13 to 15 april. fifty-three youth attended this retreat led by a retreat team formed from the national Youth team. GIGS, Sheffield A one day programme was held in Sheffield on 21 april, which was attended by 38 youth and teens living in and around the area. the event was based on the theme - Grow in God and Share and was rightly called gigs. abhy thomas

YOUR nATiviTY, O viRgin MOTHeR Of gOD, WAs THe HeRALD Of jOY TO THe WHOLe WORLD; since fROM YOU AROse THe sUn Of jUsTice, cHRisT OUR gOD. We HAiL YOU, O cHOsen One! AnD enTReAT YOU TO ObTAin fOR Us A DevOTiOn Like YOUR OWn TO THe MOsT sWeeT WiLL Of gOD. AMen.

Printed & Published by Mr. Raiju Varghese on behalf of Jesus Youth International Office, 6F Thadikaran Centre, Palarivattom P.O., Cochin-682 025, Kerala, INDIA, Ph: +91 484-4054870, 4054371, Fax: +91-484-4054870, Email: jyglobal@jesusyouth.org www.jesusyouth.org editor-in-charge: shelton Pinheiro editorial team: manoj sunny, Beena manoj, anu Pinheiro & liss thomas layout: sanil c.a. Printed by SR Graphics, Kottayam, Ph:+91 481-2301142