ICYM Central Council, Mangalore Diocese in collaboration with ICYM St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur and ICYM Kadaba Unit hosted the 9th Diocesan Youth Convention – 2018 with the theme “ Youth towards building a strong community in the footsteps of Jesus Christ ” from 5th November to 8th November at St. Joachim’s Church grounds, Kadaba.

The inaugural program was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Henry Dsouza – Chairman, Karnataka Regional Youth Commission and Bishop of Diocese of Bellary. The chief guests of the program were Roy Castelino – Former State President, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, V. Rev. Fr Alfred J Pinto – Vicar Forane, St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur, Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo – Parish Priest, St. Joachim’s Church, Kadaba, Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza – Director, Rev. Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza - Assistant Director, ICYM Mangalore Diocese, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza – Director, ICYM St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur, Louis Mascarenhas – Vice president, Jacintha Veigas – Secretary, Parish Pastoral Council, St. Joachim’s Church, Kadaba and Joseph Veigas – Animator, ICYM Kadaba Unit along with Jaison Leroy Pereira – Diocesan Youth President, Fevisha Monteiro – General Secretary, Aneesh Lobo – Joint Secretary, ICYM Mangalore Diocese and Local Co – ordinator of the event, James Crishal Dsouza – President, Rakshith Pinto – Secretary, ICYM St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur, Frayal Gladson Cross – President, Rashmitha Pereira – Secretary, ICYM Kadaba Unit were present on the dais. Rev. Fr Peter Gonsalves – Parish Priest, Holy Cross Church, Bellare, Rev. Fr Anil Roshan Lobo – Parish Priest, St. Rita Church, Panja were also present for the inaugural program.

The 9th Diocesan Youth Convention was kick started by hoisting the Papal Flag by Bishop Henry Dsouza. Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza and Rev. Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza unfurled the ICYM flag along with ICYM Executive and council members of Mangalore Diocese, V. Rev. Fr Alfred J Pinto and Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza unfurled the DYC Flag along with ICYM Executive and council members of St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur. The hosting of the flag ended on a high note by singing the ICYM Anthem followed by the formal stage programme.

Jaison Leroy Pereira welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. The Dignitaries were welcomed with a shawl, bouquet of flowers, memento and DYC Kit which consists of Recyclable Jute Bag, Eco friendly Paper Pen and a book. Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza delivered an introductory speech on Diocesan Youth Convention. Bishop Henry inaugurated DYC – 2018 in a innovative way along with Roy Castelino,V. Rev. Fr Alfred J Pinto, Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo, Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza, Rev. Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza and other dignitaries accompanied them. Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo addressed the gathering on the history and the familes of Kadaba Church. Roy Castelino in his speech, he stressed on youths being leaders of today and tomorrow and being the leaders of modern change in the society. V. Rev. Fr Alfred J Pinto spoke about the development of puttur deanery in terms of educational system.

Bishop Henry Dsouza addressed the gathering on the signifance of Synod - 2018 and the role of youths in synod at the vactian city. Bishop Henry specially thanked and honoured Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza for his self-service, hard work with dedication in the youth ministry for 14 years. Later on, Cultural program was performed by youngsters of Puttur Deanery. Rakshith Pinto – Secretary, St. Paul Eastern Deanery proposed the vote of thanks, Jovel Fernandes, Melroy Dsouza and Rovina Pereira compered the inaugural program.

Day 2:
The Day began with the inaugural mass which was celebrated by the main celebrant Rev. Fr. Ashwin Lohith Cardoza along with the other co – celebrants Rev. Ronald Prakash Dsouza, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza and Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo. Steevan Quadras and Prof. Alwyn Dsa conducted a workshop on the topic “The need of joining of civil services”, Self Employment and Personality Development. Jackson Eric Dcosta conducted a quiz session. In the post lunch session, Rev. Fr Veeresh Moras gave a talk on the topic “Present Society and Our Response. At the evening session, TAIZE Prayer was conducted at the church. Later on, Cultural Programme was performed by the delegates.

Day 3:
Dr. Amith L Dsouza –Nephrologist, Father Muller Charitable Institutions conducted awareness workshop on “Blood Donation, Drishti and Life giving campaigns. A team led by Rev. Fr Anil Alfred Dsouza – Director, Family Life Centre, Shanti Kiran, Bajjodi conducted a panel discussion on “Importance of Family Life”. The panelists for the session were: Rev. Fr Naveen Pinto – Parish Priest, St. Peter Claver Church, Arva, Irene Rebello and Anil Dcunha. Rev. Fr Jacob Anil Dsa – National Youth Co-ordinator – ICYM, YCS / YSM and Regional Youth Director, Bosco Youth gave a description on “Laudato Si” the encyclical letter of Pope Francis followed by discussion on conserving environment. At 4:30 pm, the gathering welcomed Rt. Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha - Bishop of Diocese of Mangalore with a grand procession paraded by St. Mother Teresa Band, Honnavar followed by Holy Eucharistic Celebration along with other priests. On behalf of DYC - 2018, Rt. Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha along with ICYM members and the dignitaries planted coconut saplings as a gesture of Grow Green Campaign and donated 2 Disposal bins to Kadaba Church. A short formal programme was held to felicitate Rt. Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha as the newly elected Bishop of Diocese of Mangalore, Rev. Fr Chetan Machado – Secretary, CCBI Youth Commission and National Youth Director, ICYM, YCS / YSM. Rev. Fr Jacob Anil Dsa – National Youth Co-ordinator – ICYM, YCS / YSM and Regional Youth Director, Bosco Youth. Percival Holt – ICYM National Youth President were felicitated on this occasion. Percival Holt shared his experience about his participation at the SYNOD - 2018 which was held at the Vatican City. The dignitaries on the dias included Jesvita Quadras – National Youth President, YCS / YSM, Cyril J Prabhu - Regional Youth Co-ordinator, ICYM and YCS / YSM Karnataka Region, Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza, Rev. Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza and Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo. The dignitaries and YCS delegates were presented with DYC Kit. As a part of promotion a short trailer of tulu cinema titled “Kambalabettu Bhaturuna Magal” was shown during the occasion. On the occasion of Diwali, a short prayer service was conducted in the dark night outside the venue with the help of candle lights and was placed in the formation of Map of India followed by the Camp fire.

Day 4:
Rev. Fr Basil Vas – Parish Priest, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Madanthyar and team conducted praise and worship session on review of life. Dr B R Bhat and Nobert Rodrigues conducted a live demonstration on Life Saving Techniques. Rt. Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul Dsouza – Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Mangalore celebrated the thanksgiving mass along with the other priests. The valedictory programme of DYC – 2018 commenced at 12:30 PM. Rt. Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul Dsouza presided over the programme along with Ivan Dsouza – MLC, Govt of Karnataka, Paul Rolphy Dcosta - Diocesan President, Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh, P.P Varghese – Member, D.K Zilla Panchayat, Fazal Kodimbala – Member, Puttur Taluk Panchayat, Prajwal Lopes – Regional Youth President, CCBI ICYM Karnataka Region, Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza, Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo, Louis Mascarenhas, Joseph Veigas, Jaison Leroy Pereira, Fevisha Monteiro, Aneesh Lobo, James Crishal Dsouza, Rakshith Pinto, Frayal Gladson Cross, Rashmitha Pereira, Frenton Irol Dsouza, Cascia - Public Relations Officer, ICYM Mangalore Diocese and Diocesan Representative for ICYM St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur. James Crishal Dsouza welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. Ivan Dsouza and Paul Rophy Dcosta addressed the gathering with a few words on the development of youths. Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul Dsouza in his presidential speech spoke about youth’s role within the community and the society and was honoured for his selfless service as Former Bishop of Diocese of Mangalore. Rev. Fr Alexander Lewis – Former Parish Priest and Founder, St. Joachim’s Institutions along with Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza, Rev. Fr Praveen Dsouza, Rev. Fr Ronald Lobo were specially honoured and Rev. Fr Anil Roshan Lobo, Sr. Monica – Headmistress, St. Joachim’s Kannada Medium Higher Primary School and Joachim Dsouza were felicitated on this occasion. The dignitaries were presented with DYC Kit. Fevisha Monteiro proposed the vote of thanks. Wilma Lobo, Kokkada and Griffith Jennifer Monteiro, Manjeshwar compered the valedictory programme. The convention concluded with the ICYM Anthem.