Youth to celebrate faith during retreat

The 34th National Youth Retreat will start from May 25-30 with the theme “Put on the Armour of Light.”

Muringoor:  Hundreds of youth from across the country will gather to celebrate their faith during the youth retreat in Kerala.

The 34th National Youth Retreat will start from May 25-30 with the theme “Put on the Armour of Light.”

Youth from colleges, schools and parishes from the country and abroad are expected to take part in the retreat at Kerala’s Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, world’s largest Catholic retreat centre.

“There’s a great thirst among the youth to experience their faith at a new and deeper level. The new generation has a far deeper and untapped spiritual dimension,” said Preena from Chennai.

Merlyn from Mumbai shared the same views. When the National Youth Retreat at Divine was announced in my parish, in a matter of four days I had seventy people calling me from all over the city,” Merlyn said.

The first national youth retreat was held in 1995.

The youth who came at the first retreat went back and through their radical living witness inspired those around them and brought their parents and friends due to which the Couples Retreat was first held at the Centre.

Now every time a youth retreat is slated, there are specific programs held for each member of the family.

“Every time we have a youth retreat, we invariably receive around 70 to 100 seminarians. It is a great experience of faith and also an exposure to the pastoral dimension of the vibrant youth ministry in the Church,” said Ajay, a team member at the Divine Youth.

The youth retreat will have sessions including inspiring messages based on Scripture and vibrant gospel music that appeal to the youth.

Internationally renowned leaders of the Church and musicians will also be present during the event.

Fr. Augustine Vallooran, the Director of the Centre will lead the retreat. Fr Joseph Edattu, the Director of the Divine Retreat Centre in United Kingdom will also minister at the retreat.

Live-wire preachers include Jude Antoine from Malaysia.

There are a few Catholic gospel bands leading the praise and worship – apart from the Divine music ministry led by Glen and Teresa La’rive, Vincent T. and Nishant Fernando.

FAITH band from Goa and Catholic youth band ‘UPPER ROOM’ from Dubai will take part in the event.

There will also be inspiring testimonies, skits and presentations.

“The reason why so many youth flock in for the retreat is that there is vibrancy in our proclamation. The youth need this. We bring in resource persons who can communicate to the youth in the language of the contemporary culture,” said Maria Sangeetha, Divine Youth coordinator.

“We don’t dilute the content. We offer a strong challenge to a radical holiness. The youth want this and they’re given the faith to take it up boldly. Importantly, this will be a marvelous experience of being Church – people of every tongue and tribe gathering to celebrate their faith and their mission to make this world a heavenly place,” she added.

Fr. Vallooran said, “we spare no effort in doing the best preparations for the youth. This is an effort that seeks to provide the God experience and challenge of holiness to lives that are at the threshold of moulding the course of the world.”