Bangalore (India). On 18 November 2023, the doors of the complex of the headquarters of Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (INK) in Bangalore, were opened to welcome the young people of six Karnataka State Communities for the 2023 Regional Meeting of Young People, on the theme: “Like Mary, rise and shine” coordinated by Sister Mary Rani, regional youth delegate.
Soon the headquarters filled with the laughter and joy of 140 young people, accompanied by nine FMA at the FIDES Room, where the meeting was held. The inaugural ceremony warmed the climate with the anthem of the Auxilium Youth Movement (AYM). Sister Sherly Joseph, the Animator of Sacred Heart Community; Sister Teresa Augustine, Novice Formator; Sister Maria Rajeshwari, Provincial Councilor for Youth Ministry; and Sister Sumi Joseph, Director FIDES; together with two representatives of the young people, had decorated the steps and lit the traditional lamp of hope, inaugurating the event.
Sister Venila Dominic and Sister Shyla Anthonappa then led an engaging dynamic ‘ice breaker’, after which Sister Maria Rajeshwari presented the vision, the mission of the Auxilium Youth Movement (AYM), and an overview of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The lunch together was followed by a contest on the theme “Like Mary, rise up and shine”. Mimes, skits, dances etc. were performed on stage, which gave rise to a surprising, colorful, and stimulating time of reflection on the part of the young people and for the young people. The surprises continued to follow with different moments throughout the day:
“Youth cafe”. Sister Arokia Mary and Sister Saleth Mary had prepared seven tables with seven referents of a theme: the care of the environment in the home; skills for life; positive attitude; communication skills, build a virtuous youth; time management skills; advantages of media education. The duration of each session was about ten minutes. While the animators remained at the same workstations, the participants continued to move between the tables to complete all the topics.
A time of recollection and silence. Sister Mary Rani and Sister Joseph led the group in prayer in the style of Taizé. The environment was prepared with the utmost care, with lamps and plants. Accompanied by reflections and songs, the young raised their hearts to God.
The highlight of the day was the competition with the presentation of different cultural forms of Karnataka: Kolaata, Kamsala, Dollu kunita, Bolak-aat (Dance Kodava), and Yakshagaana. It was a feast for all; the salon resounded with the rhythmic melodies of music and dance and with the joyful cries of the young.
The next day, the young people were led by the women, Venila and Shyla in the open air for a “meditation with dry sticks”, from which the participants reflected on the dryness of life and on the return to the freshness of mind.
Then Fr. John Sanjay, SDB of Don Bosco College TC Palya, animated the time before the Eucharistic Celebration with entertaining activities.
The final award ceremony was also an expression of mutual acknowledgement and appreciation. On the notes of the AYM hymn, the Regional Youth Meeting of Karnataka was concluded, with the hope that young people will rise and shine like Mary!
