PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, has exhorted young Catholics to recognise themselves as “the present and the future of the Church.”
Cardinal Ferrão, who is also President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), was addressing the youth while presiding over the concluding Holy Mass of Witness at the National Youth Conference.
According to a report in The Catholic Connect, the event at the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, celebrated the silver jubilee of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM).
More than 2,500 young leaders and 200 priests gathered for the celebration, which marked the culmination of the five-day national youth event.
“You are the bearers of hope for the Church and the world,” Cardinal Ferrão told the youth, urging them to remain close to Jesus and the Church. Citing the example of St Carlo Acutis, he encouraged the young leaders to use their talents for proclaiming Christ. He reminded them that faith must be lived with humility and expressed through action.
“Never underestimate the power of prayer. Without prayer, leadership becomes meaningless,” he said. “Your gifts are entrusted not for pride but for the glory of God. You are not passive members of the Church, but missionary disciples.”
The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Ignatius D’Souza, Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Youth and Bishop of Bareilly; Rev. Dr Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI; Fr Chetan Machado, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Youth; Fr John Barman, Associate Executive Secretary for Youth; Fr Anoop Antony, OSJ, Kerala Region Youth Commission Secretary; and Fr Maria Antony, National Council Member of the Youth Commission, along with more than 200 priests.
Among the dignitaries present were Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma; Rev. Dr Augustine Vallooran, VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre; and Rev. Sr Shakhila, CTC, Mother General of the CTC Congregation, the Catholic Connect report added.
