The North Eastern Regional Youth Commission–India Catholic Youth Movement NorthEast (NERYC–ICYM-NE), in collaboration with the Manipur Catholic Youth Organisation (MCYO), successfully organized a three-day Catholic youth meet in the riot-affected Churachandpur District of Manipur, India, from September 20 to 22, 2025.
The event, themed “Pilgrimage of Hope,” was hosted at Good Shepherd Parish and gathered 380 young participants, along with priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful from six parishes of the Kuki-Zo Community.
The inaugural day featured the introduction of leaders, choreographed performances, vocal presentations, and a cultural exchange showcasing traditional dances from various tribes, celebrating the region’s rich heritage.
Fr. John Barman, Regional Youth Director and General Secretary of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, served as the main resource person. He stressed the importance of Scripture in daily life, stating: “Unless we have the Bible, we cannot live a meaningful life or have a bright future.” He encouraged the youth to embrace their vital role in the Church, to become messengers of the Holy Spirit and catalysts for change. Fr. Barman reminded them that anyone who kneels and prays to God can face even the most difficult situations. He further highlighted the significance of digital evangelization, urging the youth to use their phones for the mission of the Church, affirming that “youth are social missionaries.”
Despite an earlier incident in the area, where an army convoy was ambushed resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to six others, the youth meet proceeded without disruption.
The main Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Fr. Lourdhusamy, Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Parish, Tuibuang, and concelebrated by Fr. John Barman, Fr. Jacob Darsongam (Director of MCYO), Fr. George Ginsei Baite, and Fr. Dr. Paul Lelen.
In his homily, Fr. Lourdhusamy reminded the youth that one cannot serve both God and money, cautioning: “Don’t become a slave to money, but be a slave to God. Making money the focus of life can be dangerous.” He urged them to resist negative influences, to develop forward-looking mindsets, and to live with hope and purpose. He warned that when the pursuit of wealth becomes central, it can foster selfishness and corruption.
Mr. Chris Leonard Barnard, a career guidance professional and professor from Bangalore, delivered a talk on the role of youth in leadership and civil careers. He emphasized that youth are the Church and the temple of the living God. Offering historical context, he noted the significant contributions of Indian Christians to education since independence. However, he highlighted the current challenges, including false allegations of forced conversions. He pointed out that the Christian population in India has declined from 2.8% in 2014 to 1.9% today, citing over 834 coordinated attacks against Christians since the BJP came to power in 2014, compared with only 14 reported incidents before then.
The three-day gathering featured a variety of activities, including cultural dances, a choreography competition, singing, adoration, prayer, and a seminar. It concluded with a solemn Holy Mass officiated by Fr. John Barman, bringing the “Pilgrimage of Hope” to a spirit-filled close.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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