ICYM Central Council, Mangalore Diocese in collaboration with ICYM St. Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur and ICYM Kadaba Unit inaugurated the 9th Diocesan Youth Convention on Monday, 5th November 2018 at 7.00 PM in 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 ICYM Theme song 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. Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza delivered a 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 should be leaders of today and tomorrow and be 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 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.