The life of Blessed Chiara “Luce” Badano, an Italian teenager who faced cancer with faith and courage, inspired 307 Catholic young people at a mental health seminar organized by the Patna Archdiocese in eastern India on October 25.
Held at Navjyoti Niketan in Patna, capital of Bihar state, the one-day seminar was organized by the Snehaadhara Patna Archdiocesan Youth Commission under the theme “Healthy Mind, Stronger Faith, Brighter Future.”
The gathering brought together young people from various Catholic institutions and parishes of the archdiocese to promote mental health awareness, emotional resilience and compassionate support for people experiencing mental and emotional difficulties.
The seminar also reflected Pope Leo XIV’s October 2026 prayer intention for mental health ministry, which calls on the Church to overcome the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and become a community that listens without judgment and accompanies those who suffer.
Sessions were led by Fr. Shinto Matthew, OCD, national president of the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) in India; Sr. Seema Ekka, DSA, regional secretary of CMHM Chhattisgarh and coordinator of its youth ministry; and Sr. Ranjana Tirkey and Sr. Lalita Tirkey, members of the CMHM India team.
The speakers encouraged participants to recognize mental health as an essential part of overall well-being and emphasized the importance of emotional resilience, healthy relationships and effective communication.
They also encouraged young people to seek support when facing difficulties and to respond with understanding rather than judgment when accompanying others experiencing emotional or mental distress.
A key part of the seminar focused on Blessed Chiara Badano, whose life continues to inspire young Catholics through her faith amid suffering.
Born on October 29, 1971, in Italy, Chiara joined the Focolare Movement at the age of nine and developed a deep relationship with Jesus.
At 17, she was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. Despite severe pain and increasing physical limitations, she faced her illness with courage and trust in God.
“It's for you, Jesus; if you want it, I want it, too,” she said during her illness.
Even while suffering, Chiara remained joyful and attentive to the needs of others. She also donated her savings to support a friend involved in missionary work in Africa.
She died on October 7, 1990, at the age of 18. Her joyful outlook earned her the name Luce, meaning “light” in Italian. Pope Benedict XVI beatified her on September 25, 2010.
Her story encouraged the participants to draw strength from faith and face life's challenges with hope. It also highlighted the importance of offering compassionate companionship to people experiencing emotional and mental difficulties, rather than leaving them isolated or judging their struggles.
The seminar emphasized that faith communities can play an important role in mental health awareness by creating spaces where young people feel safe to speak about their struggles, seek help and support one another.
Through the gathering, the Patna Archdiocesan Youth Commission sought to encourage a generation of young Catholics who combine personal resilience with greater sensitivity toward the mental and emotional well-being of others.
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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