Our Beginning
Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) was formed by the Youth Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI). Most Rev. Dr. Albert D'Souza (presently the Arch Bishop of Agra) pioneered the movement in Lucknow while he was bishop of Lucknow during the 1970s. Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Lobo was appointed the first Regional Youth Director of Agra Region comprising of 12 dioceses.
Our Purpose
- The central focus of the youth ministry is the catholic adolescents, young unmarried adults in the age group of 15- 30 years.
- Our group is varied- there are students, dropouts, employed, unemployed, urban, rural and from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
- The purpose is to acknowledge all these different shades, nurture these differences in order to help the young person absorb the richness around her/him and develop her/his unique identity.
Structure
The Parish youth group coordinates all activities of the parish according to the plan formulated by the ICYM diocesan Unit. The Parish ICYM is made up of:
- The Parish Priest or the Assistant Parish Priest as the Parish Youth Animator.
- A Religious Sister who assists the PP or APP to organize events or accompany the youth when diocesan/regional/national level youth events are held.
- And all the youth members of the Parish (15-30 years of age/ unmarried)
ICYM DEXCO
The members are elected from among the Diocesan Youth Committee.
- Diocesan Youth Director- Rev. Fr. Dominic Pinto
- Lady Animator- Rev. Sr. Cecilia
- President - Clinton Massey
- Vice president- Khushbu Anupama Soreng
- Secretary- Sharona S. Mukherjee
- Treasurer - Alphonsia Mary Bosco
- Spokesperson - Alphonsia Mary Bosco
- Girl Representative- Annie Tirkey
- Boy Representative- Ashwini Bendedict
The same structure exists at the Regional and National levels.
Annual Activities Conducted
- Summer Youth Camp: The 3-4 days residential camp is an annual activity organized during the summer vacations in the month of May. Organized in the different zones in rotation, these camps have already been held in Bakshi-ka-talab, Nigohan, Barabanki, Lucknow and Gonda. About 175 youth of the diocese take part in the camp, accompanied by the DEXCO (Diocesan Executive Committee) team and parish animators. The youth leaders are responsible for everything ranging from train reservations to compeering the program. This vast convergence of youth from various parishes is focused on 'Faith-formation'. Equal weightage is given to Personality Development through Group discussions and competitions like Bible Quiz, Skit, Solo and Group Singing. Every year 50% of participants are new comers.
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Diocesan Youth/ Vocation Day: This is a one-day program, usually held at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hazratganj, Lucknow. The day starts with celebration of Holy Eucharist usually by the Rev. Bishop. After formal inauguration in St. Francis College Hall, the input session along with a workshop, is conducted. The attractions of the day are Inter-parish Group Singing and Group Dancing Competition as well as Poetry and Essay competitions in English and Hindi, based on a chosen theme (the theme for this year was: Youth- Media and Technology). The program concludes with Prize Distribution.
- Animation Program: Similar to the Training of Trainers (TOT) organized at the Regional Level, this program is organized for the Diocesan Executive Team and office bearers of the Parish Youth Group.
- Vocation Camp: With the objective that the mature youth may discern their true vocation and that vocation to religious life be encouraged and guided, the three-day in-house vocation camp is organized.
- Bible Festival: Bible Festival is usually held in the month of October during the Dusshera Holidays. Competitions of various types are held along with input sessions on Bible. It is a three full day's residential programme held in various parts of the diocese.
- Other Programs:
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- Every year, around 10 youth of the Diocese attend the month long Life Orientation Program (LOP). This is a much more rigorous and thorough exercise in faith formation, community service and vocation discernment.
- Youth are the major contributors to the regular Sunday, Feast Day choirs and Carol Singing in each parish.
- Career Counselling and Guidance are part of diocesan camps.
- Though not part of the Diocesan youth program in the strict sense, the Christmas Programs organized in the Diocese to serve the purpose of 'telling the story of Jesus'.
YCC - Youth Counselling Cell
Youth Counseling Cell a gift of Diocesan Pastoral Executive Committee on the occasion of Closing of the Year of the Youth. Mr. Denzil Godin, who proposed this concept so that catholic youth may get right guidance during the important phases of their life. Constant efforts are on to accumulate the data about the youth of the diocese that they benefit from this cell. Once data collection is complete youth be will given guidance by the professional counselors. Mr. Denzil Godin and other resource persons will be available on Sundays at Navinta.
Yesu de Bande: A Youth Musical Band
A Youth Musical Band Diocese is proud of the Youth Musical Band which began in 2009. This band consists of young talented musicians and singers. The first Musical Concert: Yesu Bula Raha, was held on 15th November 2009 at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Lucknow. This band conducts Praise and Worship all over the diocese and outside the diocese. This band helps out in conducting choirs on major occasions in the diocese and is an inspiration for the younger generation to learn music and praise God through music.
Jesus Youth Ministry
From the year 2008 Jesus Youth is growing in the diocese. Jesus Youth is a Youth Movement at the service of the church. Other than diocesan youths' participation in the National Conventions held all over India, regular retreats and follow up programmes are held in the diocese. There is a Jesus Youth Full-timer, who works for the youth of the diocese under the guidance of the youth director.
Full-timers worked in the diocese:
2009-2010 - Anil (Kerala)
2010-2011 - Abhijeet Paul (Patna)
2011-2012 - Teddy Abraham (Rajastan)
2017 (6 months) - Adrin Paul (Indore)
Lucknow Diocesan Youth as Full-timers in other dioceses:
2011-2012 - Anshul Robinson - Indore Diocese (M. P.)
