Pakistan: Quetta Vicariate Empowers Youth for Parish Leadership and Missionary Action

The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of the Quetta Vicariate in  southwestern Pakistan, organized a formative seminar on June 22, 2026, to instruct local youth on the history, structure, and mission of the societies.

The formative event was held under the guidance of bishop Sebastian Francis Shaw and was organized by Pontifical Mission Societies led by Diocesan Director Fr. Imtiaz Faryad and Assistant Diocesan Director Fr. Samran Boota.

The seminar aimed to encourage youth participation in the Church's missionary work and to promote religious vocations. It sought to empower young people to take ownership of their role within the parish community and actively support the global outreach of the Church.

By cultivating a deeper formative understanding of missionary responsibilities, organizers aimed to inspire the next generation to respond to spiritual callings with dedication and leadership.

Fr. Imtiaz Faryad explained the history, mission, and organizational structure of the Pontifical Mission Societies, urging the young attendees to join and serve through the organization.

He highlighted how the global network of these societies supports grassroots pastoral work and works to alleviate poverty and suffering in remote regions.

He emphasized that the youth have a unique responsibility to become active witnesses of faith and messengers of peace within their local communities.

Fr. Samran Boota led a session that focused on the specific roles and responsibilities assigned to PMS Animators. He explained that animators serve as vital guides who motivate others and foster a missionary spirit within their respective parishes.

He also detailed practical formative methods for organizing youth groups and leading local community prayer initiatives. Furthermore, he emphasized that effective animation requires personal commitment, continuous spiritual and formative formation, and a willingness to mentor peers in faith.

The seminar included an interactive group activity conducted by Rohail Arsalan and the PMS Core Committee, where youth participants analyzed and presented on assigned pastoral topics.

Additionally, Sr. Nasira Sohan addressed the audience on the importance of discerning and promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. She stressed that a thriving Church relies on the generosity of young people answering God's call, and urged families and parishes to create supportive formative environments that nurture these spiritual journeys.

Following her address, the Vicar Delegate of the Quetta Vicariate, Fr. Pervaiz Raza, OMI, spoke on the overall importance of the societies to the Church's mission. He reminded the participants that missionary work is not an optional activity but the foundational identity of the global Church, explaining how the structural framework of the PMS helps locals stay connected to universal evangelical efforts.

Sharing their feedback at the conclusion of the event, the young participants expressed deep gratitude for the interactive nature of the seminar. Many noted that the hands-on group exercises made missionary concepts easy to understand and gave them the practical confidence needed to lead.

The attendees collectively voiced a renewed commitment to returning to their respective parishes fully equipped to serve dynamically as active PMS Animators.