India: Parish Youth in Madurai Lead Lenten Campaign on Health, Education, and Social Justice

The youth of St. Sebastian’s Church in Ellis Nagar, a parish in the southern Indian city of Madurai, marked the Lenten season with a series of awareness programs linking faith with personal and social transformation.

Organized by the parish youth movement under the guidance of Parish Priest Fr. Joachin, the four-week initiative carried the theme “Toward the Dawn on the Path of Liberation.” It focused on health, education, social justice, and spiritual renewal, engaging the wider parish community.

In the first week, the youth highlighted the importance of healthy living through the message “Our food should be our medicine, not our poison.” Using charts, songs, and short performances, they raised awareness about the harmful effects of processed and fast foods, while encouraging the use of traditional and organic alternatives.

The second week centered on education and employment. The youth encouraged families to support children in pursuing higher education and careers, including opportunities in public service. They also offered guidance to parents on nurturing their children’s aspirations.

The third week addressed social justice, featuring a play on the life of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, an Indian priest and tribal rights activist who died in 2021 after being detained under anti-terror charges. Written and directed by Father Nitin Prabhu, the play emphasized the Christian call to stand for justice and defend the rights of marginalized communities.

In the final week, the parish staged a “Living Way of the Cross,” a dramatic reenactment of Jesus Christ’s passion. The presentation invited the faithful to reflect more deeply on Christ’s suffering and its relevance to contemporary life.

The initiative at St. Sebastian’s challenged the perception that young people are disengaged from the Church.

For nearly two months, participants dedicated time to planning and rehearsals, setting aside distractions to focus on community service and faith formation.

The parish also acknowledged the contributions of religious sisters, lay volunteers, and donors who supported the program.

Parish leaders said the initiative could serve as a model for other communities, showing how young people can actively contribute to both spiritual growth and social awareness during Lent.