By Ms Pearl Fernandes for BISMumbai

Sacred Heart Parish, Yerwada, Pune, celebrated Youth Day on 10 September 2023. The Parish youth group meticulously planned the exciting event under the direction of the Youth Director, Fr Alex Carvalho. The event aimed to engage youth in acts of community building, foster family spirit, and strengthen their relationships while constructively building the church as a whole.  Around 90 enthusiastic participants graced the occasion with their presence.

The Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. helped set the tone for the day. The youth felt the presence of the Almighty as they reflected on Fr Joyston Machado's beautifully connected homily, which provided them with new insights into WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook and their relationships with God and their fellow humans.  

Fr Carvalho greeted everyone, introduced the speaker, Fr Machado, and emphasised the importance of youth in society.  The participants were divided into teams, and the celebrations began with engaging ice-breaker activities and games, which helped the teams prepare their energies and tune in for the upcoming events. The volunteers kept the participants entertained with a variety of games, and each level pushed the teams to perform better. 

Fr Machado led an enlightening session called ‘Youth Lens’, which focused on some important aspects of life. His lively action songs, real-life examples, interactive group discussions, wonderful reflections, and application-oriented and appropriate activities kept the participants energised.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The Salesians of the community interacted with the youth and boosted their morale. Their presence did, in fact, keep Don Bosco's spirit alive. Fr Michael Fernandes, the Parish Priest, in his address to the gathering, urged the youth to be true and reliable, as the future of the nation lies in their hands.  

After lunch, Aaron Asirwadam and the band led the congregation in praise and worship. Ms Sharlotte Carvalho, one of the attendees, stated, “This was an amazing event, and I had a great time. This was my first Youth event, and I totally cherish it. Praise God!”  “We, as members of the youth group, look forward to organising many more events for our youth; when we come together, we grow,” said Mr Vincent Beemer, a youth group volunteer.

All participants appreciated the entire youth group for their efforts in making the day successful in uniting young people for a good cause. They understood the vision, the mission, and their role in strengthening the community.