The Young Christian Students (YCS) movement in Sri Lanka celebrated its 75th anniversary on July 4 with a thanksgiving Mass, youth formation programs, and a commemorative gathering at St. Joseph's College Auditorium in Colombo, the country's capital.
The celebration, held under the theme "Cosmic Renewal in a New Heaven and New Earth" and the slogan "75 Years of Grace," brought together students, clergy, religious, former members, and Church leaders to mark the movement's contribution to youth formation.
Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the chief guest, urged young people to reject the pursuit of wealth and power through shortcuts and instead embrace lives rooted in faith, responsibility, and service.
In his address, the cardinal referred to the biblical account of the Tower of Babel, saying the desire for quick success without moral and spiritual foundations ultimately leads to division and confusion. He also cautioned that rapid advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence must be guided by ethical principles and respect for human dignity.
The anniversary celebration began with a Holy Mass, followed by a series of formation sessions for young people.
Fr. Prasad Harshana, rector of St. Aloysius Minor Seminary in Borella, a suburb of Colombo, reflected on the theme "A Journey Close to God as Youth." Inspector of Police Madhumal Gamage, a child psychological counselor, addressed the challenges facing young people today, focusing on mental health and social pressures.
The program also honored former members, leaders, chaplains, and priests who have contributed to the growth of the movement over the past seven decades. Cultural performances by young participants concluded the celebration.
The Young Christian Students movement was founded internationally in 1926 by Belgian priest Fr. Joseph Cardijn, later created a cardinal, to help students integrate faith into daily life through its well-known method of "See, Judge, Act."
Sri Lanka established the movement in 1951, becoming the first country in Asia to do so. Cardinal Cardijn visited the country three times, helping strengthen and expand the movement during its formative years.
Fr. Prageeth Dishan currently leads the movement as its national chaplain.
Over the past 75 years, the Young Christian Students movement has formed generations of Catholic students in leadership, social responsibility, and Christian witness, remaining one of Sri Lanka's longest-serving youth organizations.
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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