By Alphonsa Ohol and Angela Saby for BIS Mumbai

Sacred Heart Parish Youth, Yerwada, organised a Marian Dogmas Exhibition on October 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. inviting parishioners to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teachings on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The exhibition began with an introduction explaining the meaning of dogmas and how the Church formally proclaims them. This was followed by four sections presenting the Marian dogmas: the Immaculate Conception, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, the Assumption of Mary, and Mary as the Mother of God.

The Immaculate Conception explained that Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. The Perpetual Virginity section presented the Church’s teaching that Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus. The Assumption highlighted the belief that Mary was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life. The final section explained that Mary is rightly called the Mother of God because Jesus Christ, her Son, is truly God and truly man.

At each section, youth members served as guides, explaining the teachings and answering parishioners’ questions. The exhibition was conducted in English and Marathi, making it accessible to a wider section of the parish community. The displays also helped visitors understand the history and theological reflections behind the formal definition of these dogmas.

A meaningful feature was a large image of Mother Mary, where parishioners wrote what she meant to them on heart-shaped cards and pinned them around the image. This activity offered a personal expression of their love and devotion to Our Lady.

Another attraction was a Marian photobooth prepared by the youth. With an image of Mother Mary displayed above, parishioners could stand beneath it, symbolising the loving protection of her mantle.

The exhibition was prepared under the guidance of Fr Gregory D’Cunha, SDB, Youth Director. He taught the youth about each dogma, encouraged them to research more deeply, challenged them to think, and patiently answered their questions. His guidance helped them develop a deeper understanding of the Church’s teachings.

 A parishioner in his opinion appreciated the initiative, describing the exhibition as neatly organised and praising the youth for being well prepared. The parishioner also noted that it created a jovial and informative environment, helping visitors learn about the Marian dogmas and their historical development.

The exhibition brought together faith, learning, creativity and community participation. It offered parishioners an opportunity to explore the Church’s teachings on the Blessed Virgin Mary while encouraging the youth to grow in theological understanding, research and service to the parish.