India News

Media Release

Bengaluru, June 2 : Inaugurating the III National Convention of the YCS/YSM (Young Catholic Students / Young Students Movement) in Bengaluru on 26 May 2022 Most Rev. Peter Machado the Archbishop of Bangalore Archdiocese exhorted 220 student participants form different parts of the country to be youthful with all their energy, talents and dynamism. The Archbishop hoisted the national flag and declared the convention. Among the other dignitaries, Rev Fr Stephen Alathara the deputy general secretary of CCBI (Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India), Fr. Chethan Machado the National Chaplain of YCS/YSM, Fr. Anil D’Sa, IYCS Asian Chaplain & Executive Secretary of Bangalore Archdiocesan Youth Commission, Fr Lourduraj the Karnataka Region youth director, Rev Fr Vivian Richards the YCS/YSM chaplain of Bangalore archdiocese were present.

Mr K. Mathai KAS, the retired officer from Bengaluru was the chief guest of the inaugural programme who delivered the keynote address and instilled a spirit of patriotism, standing for truth and justice among the students. Fr Stephen Alathara in his felicitation speech gave examples of many Indian saints who lived a youthful life and exhorted the students to be the modern saints.

As part of the convention the students were taken to ten different places in Bengaluru for exposure visits and were enabled to put into practice the YCS methodology of “See Judge and Act”. Exhibition of different cultural dresses, food, and literature was inaugurated by the Rev Fr Chethan Machado. The students enjoyed visiting different stalls in the exhibition site and savouring the food items of different regions. A lot of experiential learning, entertainment, friendship, fun and frolic marked the day.

The five day convention witnessed a lot of sessions on the theme “Young Students for Youthful Life” and the thrust areas “Self Identity, Safe School and New Society” Interaction with former YCS members, visit of guests and celebrities adding colour to the students gathering for five days. The students are all excited and open for learning and friendship as expressed by the many students in their sharing sessions.