More than 400 young Catholics from the Diocese of Bareilly in northern India gathered for a three-day convention on human dignity and the sanctity of life, as the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) organized pro-life formation addressing contemporary moral and social issues, Catholic Connect reported.
The Anubhav Youth Convention 2026, held from October 17 to 19 at the Bishop Conrad School campus in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, focused on chastity, human sexuality and the Catholic Church’s teaching on the protection of human life.
The sessions addressed issues including abortion, pornography, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), gender ideology and LGBTQ+ concerns, encouraging young people to examine these questions in the light of Scripture and Catholic teaching.
Ajin Joseph, associate secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Family Commission with special responsibility for pro-life ministry, and Sr. Paulina Melite, MSMI, led the formation sessions. They offered participants practical guidance on making informed, life-affirming choices and responding to contemporary challenges with faith and conviction.
Bishop Ignatius D’Souza of Bareilly, chairman of the CCBI Youth Commission, celebrated Mass on October 18 and urged the young participants to deepen their faith and live out their Christian vocation.
A separate session led by Joseph focused on inner and physical healing, deliverance and chastity, encouraging participants to pursue spiritual renewal and strengthen their relationship with God.
On October 19, Sr. Paulina led a prayer session centered on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. David’s Harp Gospel Band from YU4C Delhi supported the convention’s praise and worship sessions.
The event was organized under the leadership of Fr. Vijay Tellis, youth director of the Diocese of Bareilly, in collaboration with diocesan priests, religious sisters and members of the ICYM Diocesan Executive Committee.
Bareilly is located in Uttar Pradesh, a populous state in northern India. The convention brought together young Catholics in a setting where faith formation and engagement with contemporary questions of human life and dignity remain important aspects of youth ministry.
The gathering concluded with a call for participants to bring the lessons of the convention into their families, parishes and local communities, promoting respect for human dignity and a commitment to the Gospel of Life.
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