After a long gap of two years, supported and
encouraged by the Salesians, over 333 participants (SYM members) including 47
animators from various institutions of the Salesian Family (Kolkata Province)
took part in the 7th edition of the Post-Covid Youth Fest, 20th -23
January 2023, hosted at Don Bosco Park Circus based on the theme adapted from
the Strenna 2023: “Let’s be yeast to our family: Education to the Social Media”,
inviting young people to be protagonists of transformation in their families. It
was set to focus on being the catalyst of positive impact in the human family. In
total, 21 centres participated in the fest including Auxilium Convents at
Bandel, Barasat and Dum Dum and few new Salesian presences e.g. Dumka, Gazol
and Diamond Harbour. The young and energetic youth loved it, deserving Salesian
dedication and the hard work put in by the Brothers of Sacred Heart Theological
College Shillong and the Pre-Novices.
They are blessed to be ‘the burning Bush and the yeast in the families’.
After the initial felicitation ceremony, the
oath-taking was momentous that led the youth to pledge commitment, concern, and
sensitive action towards the young and the environment. The DBPC School led by
Mr. Peter Gomes (composer of the theme song melody) welcomed all. Each day
began with Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist presided over by Archbishop Thomas
D’Souza and Bishop Nirmol Gomes and the Provincial Fr. Joseph Pauria,
respectively. The Archbishop, mentioning St. Agnes in his homily, spoke of the
“joy of the youth in the world” with everyday courage against all world threats
without hesitation because life is from God and it needs to be given back to
God. Like daily shoe polishing, habits of virtues and values (life principles)
are to be created like those of Carlo Acutos, Ruth, Naman, Dominic Savio, and
Maria Goretti. He added, youth need to meet Christ in everything by practising
courage and generosity. Like Jesus, youth be at service of the family and the
society through Parish activities, bearing witness to Jesus’ life daily. On a
similar note, Bishop Nirmol encouraged them to follow Jesus courageously like
the two young men - a Hindu (19 year) and a Muslim (30 year, local
acquaintances), staunch devotees of Christ, who freed them from darkness and
transformed them to youth of dream and decision with boldness. Christian
maturity depends on unity of heart and mind of the youth who experience the
power of Christ’s resurrection, he said.
A prayerful mix of devotion and music
spiritually permeated the ambience led by choirs from three different
institutions. Besides, there were intense moments of communication with the
divine through adoration, procession, Rosary, and the Taize prayer with simple
repetitive chants that prepared the youth for their spiritual growth through
the sacrament of Reconciliation. The
Post-dinner theme-based competitions kept the youth engaged as groups, in
giving their best.
Various dignitaries including the rector of
the Don Bosco Park Circus, chief guest Faizal Khan, the 66 Ward Councillor who
inaugurated with the YF hoisting the SYM flag, and several educators, animators,
priests, brothers and sisters of the Salesian family from West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Nepal offered floral
homage. Mr. Khan, quoting APJ Abdul Kalam called on the youngsters to live life
cultivating moral values, and to strive for knowledge and make the best use of
the facilities that Don Bosco provides them. The rector of DBPC, in his earlier
speech, motivated the youngsters to be good human beings, first. He said,
education is for life, which is to be lived to love, share, salute and smile –
being more human. In today’s competitive world, a Youth Fest is a learning
experience to ‘be’ good and ‘do’ good.
On the second day, most of the sessions were
taken by the lay experts in their respective fields, including vocation
animation and career guidance. They interacted with the youth to discuss the
ways of becoming yeast for social change, held in Bengali Hindi, Nepali and
Santhali languages. Sessions on the Strenna which is an annual message of the
head of the Salesian Family, Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), Social Media and a
quiz contest on Don Bosco and young saints were part of the days’ activities. The
theme song-cum-dance, repeatedly added youthful expressions, on frequent basis
during the day. The cultural dance competition with ethnic costumes and
choreography enthralled the night, and it had strong celebratory cultural dance
forms – a much needed innovation.
Mr. Augustin Halder, a devout Catholic from
Krishnagar, addressed a group in Bengali, distinguishing between yeast
(originated in Egypt) and the baking powder used to make cake, adding how salt,
light, mustard and fire act as catalysts either to grow or to destroy. Just as
at conception wherein a little semen (yeast) fertilizes the ovum, bringing a
new life in the family, radical change needs to happen in the life of the youth
who will have to live with responsibility in the family, Church and in the
society taking life as a gift to be utilized through integrated cooperation
with God and the laity. Fr. Dipak, the Youth Director of Delhi Province
speaking on SYM as a platform for social changes, citing the Rector Major Angel
Fernandes Artime, recommended youth to join politics, while affirming Pope Paul
VI: “Politics is the highest form of charity.” They are to follow a
spirituality of religious dialogue, human rights, ecology and virtues.
According to the Principal Fr. Bikash Mondol
of DBPC, YF is meant to help in the spiritual, social and career dimensions of
the youth. Mr. Simon Rozario of NIPs, who
learnt things through managing opportunities, spoke of transformation through
multitasking. Speaking on vocation, Fr. P.V. Thomas said, youth are called to
respond to the inner desire to a fulfilled life: “You have a purpose to be on
earth.” Youth is a moment for discernment for life in fullness; it is a call to
holiness, to perfection, to happiness.
Touching on a different note, Mrs. Victtoria,
a Salesian Cooperator, spoke of her life’s success out of sheer obedience to the
Salesian Fathers and Sisters in her life.
She asked all youth to feel part of the Salesian family and live life
fully, being a light of the world and allowing God to work in each individual,
stating: “Life is precious, treasure it, mould it well with God.” Mr. Donald of
DB Tech job placement office asked the youth to clarify doubt, clear questions
for life’s career. To do so, one has to use the 6 senses to be fully conscious
and tell what one wants to say – that is the root of a clear communication.
Following the movie 3-idiots’ famous catch phrase ‘all is well’,
an effort towards adaptability was suggested to the youth for the survival of
the fittest (e.g. use of smart phone during the Covid-19 lockdown; persons
writing less, work from home, companies adapting to new strategies for profit,
etc.). In the Gen-Z era, digital literacy, use of social media, digital
marketing, are a must (content writing, programming, coding, designing
development, Web Development, Technological design, knowledge on fake and real marketing, etc.).
To enhance one’s job he recommends: dream big, work hard and fly higher. For
this, education is important for learning than mere entertainment. Giving the
example of the richest man on earth, Elon Musk, the speaker spoke of him being bankrupt
in 2003, yet how he rose to riches. Therefore, beyond all greed, and being
happy with what one has, one can strive to be successful. But one youth
courageously asked: How successful is success? It was not easy to
confirm a comma or full stop at being successful! It needed further discussion!
Mr.
Robin Pal who is a member of the International Justice Mission, highlighted in
Hindi on the Yeast that each youth is called to be in human family. So too, the
Santhal youth interacted with Dr. Dablu Soren and Mr. John Mardy who are
special officers at Directorate of Correctional Service of West Bengal, on the
similar theme. Miss Jane Namchu, Additional Director General of Press
Information Bureau Kolkata, engaged herself in an active discussion with the
Nepali youth.
The
Provincial, Fr. Pauria, restating his written YF Message (booklet), said in his
homily that to be successful youth need to be cheerful, do daily duty and serve
others. These are the signs of holiness. Giving the example of Blessed Artime
Zatti, he said that there was A-Z of holiness in him, that kept up his faith by
doing good, sharing bread with the hungry (being yeast) like the Good
Samaritan, dispelling darkness from the society. Unlike the Scribes who
justified their actions, the youth of today need to go beyond their
self-expressions (self-interest), and be a yeast, by letting go of the ego. He
also noted on the sin of omission in youth, neglecting one’s duty to do good to
the one in need. Citing the gospel of the day, he told the youth to go and do
likewise in order to be neighbours to others. This has to be the priority in life
more than temple service; to be compassionate missionary of mercy. His last
mandate was: be available, be holy and be cheerful. Concluding the YF, the
Youth Director Fr. Patrick Lepcha said: “Life is not measured by length but by
its depth. Therefore, discern well. Use the values (sparks) in the parishes,
and light the fire….” In his printed message (booklet) he laid out five ways of
being yeast: faithful to religious practices; diligent in studies and work;
discipline and honesty in attitudes; respect towards all people of all faith
and care for the Mother Nature.
At final evaluation at individual parish/institution level, the groups
expressed their satisfaction with the YF and wished that it be continued
annually. They have appealed to all the Salesians to accompany them effectively
all through the year and conduct more animation programs in their respective
parishes. The report of the organizers’ evaluation held on the final day is yet
to be made public.
In conclusion, transforming youth into
‘yeast’ in human family, honestly speaking, calls for a radical change in organizing
any future Youth Fest. Going beyond “personal capability and Pastoral charity”,
as recommended to the Youth Ministry delegates from every South Asian Provinces
(Chennai, 31 Oct- 4 Nov, 2022) by Fr. Miguel Garcia, General Councillor for
Youth Ministry: implement the possible by getting into a plan-mentality and develop Youth activity
in keeping with the Salesian charism in the present context. Therefore, the
logistics could have been better co-ordinated by effective use of the ‘too-many’
organizing handlers, wholly managed by the Youth Director himself. Through an
abled distribution of roles, they should have facilitated more group
discussions and common sharing on crucial issues concerning the youth of the province
by the help of better qualified resource persons; how we can coordinate better the
sectors of education (schools), Young at Risk, Youth Centres (Parish), and
other youth related activities under the SYM with its methods of functioning, and
resource support to sustain it. Lastly, a Gospel Band, as was planned (cf. YF
booklet) would have done better than the ‘RR Band’!
No comments:
Post a Comment