by Fr Ajay D'monte for BIS Mumbai 

On July 21st,  a significant event unfolded at St. Anne’s Church in Ahmednagar with the election of new youth leaders. Post the 8:30 am mass, under the guidance of Fr Ajay D'monte, the youth were oriented towards their roles within the youth council. Master Jerin Nelson emerged as the new president, having received the highest votes. He enthusiastically accepted his new responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of engaging youth who are not regular attendees at church and youth meetings.

Joining him were Miss Riya Mhankale as Vice President and Miss Gloria Mugutmal as Secretary, both of whom expressed gratitude for their election and pledged to serve the youth group diligently. Fr D'monte extended appreciation to outgoing leaders and welcomed the incoming ones, highlighting their crucial roles in guiding and nurturing the church’s youth.

As these young communicants embark on their catechetical journey and the newly elected leaders assume their responsibilities, the church community unites in prayer, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit for their endeavors.

The previous Sunday, July 14, 2024, marked another milestone at St. Anne’s Church as 19 young First Holy communicants, accompanied by their parents, commenced their journey of catechism. This session, overseen by Fr Briston Britto, the parish priest, was designed to familiarize participants with the intricacies of the Holy Eucharist. Utilizing catechetical materials from the Diocesan Catechetical Centre in Pune, the session was structured into groups and employed interactive methods such as games, puzzles, and charts depicting the disciples' journey to Emmaus. This approach not only engaged the children, who enthusiastically colored and pasted, but also enlightened parents about the various facets of the Mass.

Participants found the session enriching, as Mr Kedari noted, "I was so absorbed in the session that I lost track of time, but I learned a lot, especially about the different parts of the Mass." The day concluded with a group photo featuring the children's educational charts.