Pic: Vicar General Of Mangalore offering Holy Mass At D&H
The preparations for the conference in Karnataka were formally launched on the 15th of February 2009 in Bangalore. We had close to 70 delegates from various parts of Karnataka for the launch. Many preparatory programs were organized for preparing the volunteers and participants for the conference. We had two volunteers training, Intercession retreat, growth retreat which happened during the last 9 months. We had round the clock intercession, a lot of people travelling and a series of meetings which helped in the preparation of the conference.
The conference for the region was held from the 2nd to the 4th of October in DVK Auditorium, Christ University, Bangalore.
Jesus Youth from all parts of Karnataka came together as one family to be part of the conference. The preparatory meetings and events for the conference had generated a lot of momentum which built up to the conference. People from outside the host city started pouring in to the venue a day before the conference.
We had a little more than 500 Jesus Youth for the conference which included Priests, Religious, Families and Youth. The presence of people from different background and culture in itself was a beauty of the conference.
The resources and other dignitaries who graced the conference with their presence were Archbishop Bernard Moras (Archbishop of Bangalore), Fr Dennis Prabhu Moras (Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese), George Devassy (Coordinator, Jesus Youth International), CC Joseph, Fr Adolf Washington, Adv Raiju Varghese, Alex Njavally, Siljo Thomas, Fr Jacob Britto, Rajan Uncle, Rodney Pereira, Dony Peter, Fr. Alberto Monnis CRS, Fr Sandesh, and Fr Mathew Koikkara CMI.
Pic: Archbishop of Bangalore offering Holy Mass
The conference began at 9 am on 2nd October with praise and worship. This was followed by consecration of statue of Mother Mary, Bible and the Cross by Fr Jais (Pastor, Jesus Youth Karnataka), Sr Fideles (Former Animator, Jesus Youth, Bangalore), James (Animator, Jesus Youth Karnataka), Siju Mathew (Animator, Jesus Youth Karnataka), Suraj Noronha (Coordinator, Jesus Youth Karnataka), Jessy MJ (KJYT member). Mother Mary’s consecrated statue was placed on the stage, reiterating the ever present support from our immaculate Mother for the conference.
The inaugural Holy Mass was celebrated in Kannada by Fr. Rudolf (Pastor Jesus Youth), Fr. Sandesh (Assistant Parish Priest, St.Antony’s Church, Bangalore) and Fr. Mathew Koikara (Parish priest, St. Thomas Forane Church, Bangalore). Fr.Sandesh also taught the participants a Kannada song and enthralled the participants by playing the guitar and mouth-organ together
We had optional seminars, panel sharing’s and few parallel sessions that happened on the second day of the conference. The audiovisual ministry put up choreography and a stage play which communicated the challenges faced by saints and heroes of Christianity. We had a beautiful Rosary Procession in the evening.
On the third day we had more discussions on the lifestyle of a Jesus Youth and a picture was presented on where the Jesus Youth is headed to? We also had the planning session coordinated by Suraj Noronha where the focus areas of KJYT was presented.
We celebrated the year of priests during the final session of the conference. We had invited all the priests and religious who are familiar to the Jesus Youth for this celebration. The priest and religious were presented with mementoes and special prayers were offered for them after the concluding Mass.
Other Pictures of the Conference:
Pic: Priests during the conference
