Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement, BCSM Chittagong unit has organized an Ecumenical Youth Festival on 30th September 2016 in Saint Placid’s School & College Auditorium participated by 180 youths from various churches in Chittagong city such as Catholic Church, A.G. church, Zion church, Baptist church, Church of Bangladesh etc. It was a very first initiative by the Catholic Church to gather youths from all the denominations with a view to build harmony among them and to introduce the youth organizations in order to increase the youth participation in the church. The theme of the festival was taken from the year of Mercy, “Be merciful just as your heavenly father is merciful (luke 6:36)”
There were cultural performances, magic show, bible commentary, surprise games and lots of worship songs performed by different worship bands in Chittagong in the festival. Fr. Pankaj Pereira who is the financial administrator of Chittagong Diocese commented on the main theme. Rev. Polen Paroi, a pastor from A.G. Church commented on the theme: ‘the time of the lord to show mercy’ based on the bible verse.
The festival started with a prayer conducted by the choir group from A.G. Church. Throughout the festival the participants enjoyed surprising magic show; games; worship songs performed by different worship bands; cultural programs etc. There was a video presentation on different Christian youth groups in Chittagong. In the evening there was a cultural program and a worship concert participated by youths from different churches.
Bro Rinku L. Costa, csc who is the youth coordinator of Chittagong Catholic Diocese said in his thanksgiving speech that it was pretty amazing that all the Churches made a positive response and joined this Ecumenical Youth Festival. Maybe in future it will be a inspiration for other churches as well to come together and create a greater Christian Unity.