By Fr Ashwin Macwan for BISMumbai

AmrutDhara organized a Youth Christmas Celebration on 8 January 2023, under the leadership of Fr Ashwin Macwan, the Director of AmrutDhara. The theme chosen for the celebration was the Strenna 2023 given by the Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation – ‘As the Yeast in Today's Human Family’. Around 60 youth from the Diocese of Ahmedabad participated in this event.

Fr Macwan welcomed one and all present on behalf of the Salesian Community. The celebration began with a well-animated and meaningful prayer service and the youth participated devotedly. Then, the Strenna was presented and explained, after which there were ice-breakers and games organized by the youth. The youth were divided into six different groups, and they all enjoyed the games by mixing and interacting with new people whom they had met for the first time.

The Eucharistic celebration was the climax of the day. The main celebrant was Fr Anton Appa, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Ahmedabad. In his homily, he spoke on the importance of right choices in life for a happy life. He explained that as they are young, it is their responsibility to make right choices in life, so that their life becomes legendary.

After the Eucharistic Celebration, the directors of the two short films submitted for Kahaani - the Short Film Festival, Abhay and Kevin Parmar, came forward and explained to all the summary of their film, and the films were screened for all the present. The films were much appreciated by the audience. After which both the directors were appreciated and felicitated for the hard work they put in.

After lunch, all came together for a game of Housie which was greatly enjoyed by all present. The prize distribution was held to award the group and individual winners of different games. Fr Macwan thanked Fr Pratap Damor, Fr Thomas Chalisery and Br Melvin Carvalho for their animating presence during the Celebration, He also thanked the young lay collaborators for helping in different activities of the day. He, in his speech, encouraged the youth to cultivate qualities of Christ in their lives and be yeast in the human family – spreading love, joy and cheerfulness in the Salesian way.