Natore (AsiaNews) – A five-day meeting for young people ended two days ago in Natore, near Bonpara, in the diocese of Rajshahi. Organised by the Episcopal Commission on Youth (EC-Y), the event was titled ‘Asian vivid youth live in Good News in multiple cultures’, bringing together about 400 high school and university students.
Jewel Tripura, a university student, was one of them. Enthusiastic, he said “We heard the Good News. Many participants told us about Jesus and the Bible. This seminar for young people has changed me and I feel a complete man. Young people are the future of the Church and there are many who are far away. We must reach out to them."
Jewel is a young tribal man from Thanchi, a mountainous area. "I realised that I have to work for young people in our area, where my home is,” he told AsiaNews.
One of EC-Y’s goals is precisely to promote the Christian faith among young people, making them aware of the present social, economic and political situation.
The aim is to help them mature and become more responsible citizens as well as encourage them to play an important role in the Church and society, creating fraternal bonds with others.
The seminar included study sessions as well as visits to local Christian families. "We learnt a lot from them,” Jewel said. “The one faith has made us feel strong unity with them."
Thinking about the time shared with hundreds of his peers, Deep Gomes, another university student, said, "We built a good friendship and we learnt from each other. We are determined to do something good for the Church."
According to the EC-Y, these educational activities are also a way to help young people be free from the slavery of consumerism, materialism, and capitalism, to build a society based on the principles of brotherhood and non-violence.
For the EC-Y’s national coordinator, "we young people have to decide now that we cannot turn inward, but live instead for the Church, for our country, and for the common good of the world."
For his part, Mgr Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, who took part in the seminar, said that "Our young people need to be like salt."
