Mangaluru: The Central Council members and all the 12 deanery presidents/representatives in the diocese along with the diocesan director Fr Rupesh Madtha celebrated 'YCS Mangalore Diocesan Mercy Day' on Monday September 12. The day was inaugurated with a eucharistic celebration by vicar general monsignor Denis Moras Prabhu and Fr Rupesh Madtha. This was followed by a special prayer for the participants. The vicar general called upon the youngsters to take up the challenge as youth to be merciful in their day to day life like Jesus was.

The day was celebrated not on the dais, but in a meaningful, unique and practical manner. At 9.00 am a total of 26 YCS members along with the director voluntarily dispersed themselves to 8 different institutions and various work settings throughout the city and began the Mercy Day with hard work and toil and worked just like any common laborer.

The public who watched the youngsters were impressed by their hard work and dedication of the citizens. The entire day’s work concluded at 4.00 pm after which all the members, the director and the animators visited Fr Muller’s hospital where a total collection of Rs 25,000 earned by the young students was distributed among 4 cancer patients of different faiths. The members experienced joy of spending their holiday by meaningful and fruitful charitable work. They also thanked the beneficiaries for accepting the fruits of their labor. The family members of the deceased with tears of gratefulness expressed their gratitude towards the students. Fr Richard Coelho, hospital administrator appreciated the goodwill of the YCS youngsters. Fr Rudolph D’Sa, medical college administrator, Sr Janet, YCS diocesan animators Francis D’Cunha, Richard Alvares, Arun D’Souza, Ronald D’Silva, Prajwal Sequeira, Roshan Lobo and others were also present. The student leaders Jeswita Princy Quadros (National YCS president), Lavita Rolita D’Souza (diocesan president), Merita Albuquerque (secretary), Justine Royal Fernandes and Aroline D’Souza (vice presidents), Ashwin D’Souza (regional YCS treasurer) and other office bearers with the director took lead in organizing the day. Lanwin Neetha Lobo Urwa took care of the expenses of the day.

The main objective of the Mercy Day celebration was that the youth may inculcate love and concern towards the poor and the needy, for them to realize the toil and hardships done by their parents to earn a comfortable livelihood and also to be aware of social reality, value of money, social awareness and interreligious harmony. This meaningful and innovative idea emerged in the background of the Year of Mercy in the church. The YCS students dedicated this day as a tribute to St Theresa of Kolkata (Mother Theresa) who was canonized by the Holy Church on September 4. On the appeal given by the diocesan YCS centre, many parish YCS units in the diocese have taken initiative to celebrate Mercy Day in noble, unique and meaningful ways. There are 102 YCS units in the Mangaluru diocese spread across 12 deaneries.