India: 20 young leaders pledge to become lay missionaries

Through the Communio missionary training program, as many as 20 youth leaders from seven Indian states have committed to becoming lay missionaries.

The commitment ceremony took place at St. Francis Assisi Church in Tallur, Udupi diocese, Karnataka, south India. 

Father Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General, CCBI, and the Director of Communio inaugurated the second batch of the missionary training program on Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Tallur, Udupi.

Earlier, the Youth Commission trained thirty young leaders to embark on a missionary journey in March 2024.

The Communio Missionary Training Program began on June 22 and will conclude on June 27 by taking the missionary pledge before Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi.

The volunteers, chosen for their diverse linguistic, cultural, and environmental backgrounds, are immersing themselves in the local culture by staying with 20 families from St. Francis Assisi parish. This unique arrangement aims to provide firsthand experience of Catholic life in Dakshina Kannada, mirroring the essence of missionary work.

Participants expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity. Smriti Kujur, a young electricity board employee from Chhattisgarh's Raigarh diocese, shared her long-held dream of becoming a lay missionary. "This program has finally given me the chance to fulfill my aspirations," Kujur said.

Aneesh Challa, an ICYM leader from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the program's impact on his faith journey. "It's not just about missionary work; it's about deepening our faith and connecting with like-minded individuals," Challa explained.

Dr. Roma Sah, a young medical practitioner from Patna, Bihar, sees the program as an opportunity to serve the Church through her profession. "I am excited to combine my medical expertise with missionary work," she remarked.

Father Chetan Machado, the project director of the Communio Missionary Training program, expressed optimism about the program's future.

"The enthusiasm we're seeing is inspiring. We are committed to organizing more such training programs to meet this growing interest," he stated.

Throughout the 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 local churches' visibility through content creation. Fr. Alathara, Fr. Vignan Das, Fr. Machado, Fr. Edwin D'Souza, Fr. Donic Pinto, Fr. Anil D'Sa, SDB, and Ms. Supriya Varghese were among the resource persons.

The program not only aims to train these young leaders in missionary work but also seeks to foster a deeper understanding of diverse Indian cultures and the challenges faced by different communities.

Organizers expect this holistic approach to equip the volunteers with the necessary skills and sensitivity for effective missionary work across the country.