Contributor: Flevian D'Costa
Know Your Faith-2.0 for the youths
took place in the archdiocesan training centre on 3rd March 2023 on the theme ‘Stay awake and Pray'(Matthew 26:41). A very impressive youth program took place in Chattogram on 17-20 August last year named ‘Know Your Faith’ which was very much appreciated by the youths. To make its success story a legacy, the archdiocesan youth commission decided to continue regular youth formation programs as a series of it. The ‘Know Your Faith-2.0’ is the implementation of the thought of the youth commission which was participated by 32 youth people from Cathedral, Pahartali and Diang Churches. Diocesan youth coordinator Mr Mickey Paul Gonsalves designed and conducted the program along with other members of the commission.
“I now realize what the bible and the catechism of the Catholic Church say about prayer and its struggles. I am now enlightened to start my personal prayer regularly, I am feeling the zeal burning inside me,”- Robin Anthony
Archdiocesan pastoral coordinator Mr Manik Willver D’Costa guided the young people to meditate on young people’s ‘Struggle in Prayer’. He emphasized the meaning of prayer, the experience of spiritual dryness in life, ways to encounter the dry season, the experience of grace-filled spiritual connection with god, ways to nurture it and the Youcat catechesis on prayer life. Participants took part in several buzz group discussions during the session before the speaker started a new section so that the presentation connects to the young people’s reality. Following the speech, there were various fun games, action songs, and youth mass at the end which was celebrated by the pastor of Pahartoli quasi-parish Rev. Terence Rodrigues.
A participant from the Cathedral parish, Mr Robin Anthony said that he was a new joiner in the program and was very much glad to participate with all the other young people in the city. He suggested the youth commission organize a series of ‘Know Youth Faith’ programs on the bible, catechism, and dogma so that they may have the opportunity to deepen their faith.
