The Mapusa Deanery Youth day was celebrated on 30th October, 2011 in a meaningful way. This year’s Youth Day was organized by the deanery of Mapusa in collaboration with St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa. Around 200 youth from the different parishes comprising the deanery of Mapusa descended at the St. Xavier’s College campus to participate in the day long programme. The day began with the march past wherein flags symbolizing the various parish youth groups were carried by the parish youth leaders and placed on the especially erected podium. The following parish youth groups took part in this event:
- St. Francis Xavier chapel youth, Duler,
- St. Jerome parish youth, Mapusa,
- O.L. of Flight parish youth, Cunchelim,
- O.L. of Candelaria chapel, Porvorim,
- Holy Family parish youth, Alto-Porvorim,
- St. Francis Xavier parish youth, Pirna,
- St. Diogo parish youth, Guirim,
- St. Anne parish youth, Parra,
- St. Cajetan parish youth, Bastora and
- O.L. of Soccour parish youth, Socorro.
The theme chosen for the day’s celebration was: “Celebrate You(th) in God’s creation.” The theme was beautifully depicted through various activities held during the day that included: games, ice-breakers, action songs, group discussion and an interactive session. At the outset, Fr. Tomas Lobo, deanery youth animator welcomed all and wished the youth present a very meaningful and fruitful day. Fr. Ralin de Souza, the resource person for the day conducted an enjoyable ice-breaker from where he led the participants through a thought-provoking session to understand their role as collaborators in the Divine plan of sustaining creation and contributing their “mite” to make the world a better place to live in.
Fr. Walter D’Sa, principal of St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa celebrated the Eucharist. In his well delivered homily, he stressed upon the youngsters not to be carried away by the lures of the world but to follow in the footsteps of Christ and Mary-the King and Queen of our hearts. Soon after the lunch break Ms. Ninoshka Pinto shared her personal experience of the spiritual pilgrimage she undertook in Spain, coinciding with the World Youth Day held in Madrid in August, 2011.
Later in the afternoon, Fr. Olavo Caiado, Director of the Diocesan Youth Centre interacted with the youth and appreciated the huge turnout of the youth for the deanery youth day event. The programme was further lined up with some parish-wise activities like the poster presentation, skits, action songs, mimes and prayer dances which the youth groups prepared all related to the theme of the day.
Towards the end of the day, Fr. Caetano Fernandes, dean of Mapusa deanery thanked all the organizers and collaborators for the exceptional arrangements done and for the laudable efforts put in to make this year’s youth day a grand success. Finally the curtains were brought down on the eventful day with the distribution of tokens to the participating groups at the hands of Fr. Olavo Caiado, Director of the Diocesan Youth Centre and Fr. Caetano Fernandes, dean of Mapusa deanery.
Overall the youth day brought together the youth from the different parishes of Mapusa deanery to interact, learn and enrich one another, thus providing them with an opportunity to realize their identity and vocation in the plan of God for them in the Church and the world. The youth descended down the St. Xavier’s hillock with a song on their lips and a resolve in their hearts to henceforth celebrate themselves in God’s marvelous creation.