News Contributor: Fr. Nicholas Nokrek, CSC
I have participated in the Diocesan Youth Day Celebration in Bandarban. It inspired me to gather experience from there and share my learnings with the young people in my parish in this parish youth day. I am overwhelmed with joy for getting this precious opportunity. These youth gatherings assist us to learn deeper about the Church and the mind of the Holy Father to the young people.
Said Sushmita Tripura from Saint Joseph Para (village), one of the participants in the Shanti Raj Parish, Thanchi Youth Day Celebration. The parish youth day was celebrated on 20 May 2022 at the parish centre which was participated by 147 young people around the parish.
Assistant pastor of the parish Fr. Shitol Rozario, CSC presented a keynote speech on the message of the Holy Father for the world youth day 2023 themed ‘Mary arose and left with haste.’ (Lk 1:38)
“We the young people are part of the Church. The Church is for us all, of us all, by us all. We are now young age, the time is very much precious and important. This is the right time to form ourselves through education, discipline and reflection.”, said Fr. Rozario while speaking to the gathering.
Besides Fr. Shitol Rozario; Principal of Thanchi College Mr. Dominic Tripura; Headman and President of Bangladesh Tripura Kallayan Sangsad (Tripura Welfare Association), Thanchi Upazila branch Mr. Simon Tripura and the senior-most Catechist of the parish Mr. Brindachandra Tripura respectively delivered speeches themed ‘The expectation of the society from the young people’, ‘Roles and duty of the young people’ and ‘History of the Catholic Church in Chattogram Hill Tracts and present aspect’.
The daylong event came to an end with a Eucharistic celebration sacrificed by the parish pastor Fr. Nicholas Nokrek, CSC and participating young people.