Indian young leaders committed to becoming lay missionaries

Thirty dynamic young leaders, carefully selected from 10 regions of India by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Youth Commission in partnership with the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), embarked on a transformative journey to become lay missionaries, dedicated to serving the needy and underprivileged.

Their commitment unfolded over five enriching days at Shanti Sadan, Benaulim, Goa, western India, during the "Communio Volunteers" program, inaugurated on March 19 in collaboration between Communio and the CCBI Youth Commission.

“Communio (India) is an initiative of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) since 2018 to assist all our Dioceses and Religious Congregations working in rural areas.

Throughout the youth program, participants delved into profound insights on various session topics, including 'We are the Church,' 'Every Christian is a Missionary,' 'Media for Mission Volunteering,' 'Missionary Disciples in the Digital World,' and 'ICYM Leaders as Mission Volunteers.'

They received guidance on how to increase the visibility of local churches through content creation.

Resource persons, including Fathe Stephen Alathara, Father Vignan Das, Father Chetan Machado, Father Anil D’Sa, Father Cyril Victor, Ms. Anastasia Pinto, and Ms. Angela Nayak, facilitated these sessions.

"Empowering the lay faithful to embrace missionary roles is a pivotal objective for Communio. As the Church progresses through its Synodal process, we are committed to equipping more members of the laity to actively engage in missionary endeavours across India. The Communio Volunteers program stands as a testament to this commitment,” said Father Alathara, Director of Communio.

"Our participants will embark on a mission outreach to rural areas, aligning with the Church's mission in India. This hands-on experience will play a pivotal role in shaping our young leaders into dedicated missionaries. While many expressed interest, we meticulously screened and selected 30 young leaders for this program," explained Father Machado, executive secretary of the CCBI Youth Commission and national director of ICYM.

The enthusiasm among the young participants was palpable, with individuals like Abhisek Raja A from Tamil Nadu expressing their long-held aspirations to become lay missionaries, now realized through the Communio Missionary Training Program.

Ms. Ayushi Khadiya, a young leader from Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh, central India, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the program's role in deepening her faith and fostering connections with like-minded individuals passionate about missionary work.

The Communio Missionary Training Program will culminate on March 23, with Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, President of CCBI and the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, presiding over the concluding Holy Mass and presenting certificates to the participants.

"We are delighted to witness the enthusiasm among young individuals eager to undergo missionary training," said Father Vignan Das, associate director, of Communio. "Their interest serves as a source of motivation for us, and we are committed to organizing more training programs in the future," he added.

As these young leaders embark on their missionary journeys, their unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of hope, embodying the essence of service and compassion championed by the Church. - With input from Angela Nayak