Most Rev Fr John Moolachira, Archbishop of Guwahati (center) as the main celebrant of the Holy Mass on June 28 morning service.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 28
The second day of the 5th Regional Youth Convention (RYC) at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima, witnessed a spiritually enriching series of events, beginning with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist led by Most Rev Fr John Moolachira, Archbishop of Guwahati.
The first session of the day was led by Rev Fr Vekupa George, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Chizami, as the speaker, dwelling on the topic “Identity and Purpose of Youth in Christ through Holy Sacraments.”
Addressing a gathering of vibrant young faithful, Fr Vekupa emphasised that the sacraments are not mere rituals, but life-giving channels of God’s grace. He explained the meaning of sacraments as comprising three elements—an external sign, inward grace, and institution by Christ—distinguishing them from sacramentals. He highlighted key sacraments such as Baptism and Confirmation (Sacraments of Initiation), Anointing of the Sick (Sacrament of Healing), and Matrimony and Holy Orders (Sacraments of Service).
He called on the youth to embrace their Christian identity through these channels of grace.
With a powerful reminder of the story of a man from the Garo Hills who composed the hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” after the tragic martyrdom of his family, Fr Vekupa invited the youth to reflect on their own commitment to Christ, questioning, "Can we also say, no turning back?"
He stressed the importance of the Holy Eucharist and Sacrament of Reconciliation, encouraging the youth to deepen their love for the Eucharist and the grace of confession.
He also encouraged the youth to live the Catholic faith joyfully, urging young people to be active witnesses of Christ’s love in their families and communities.
The second session was led by Rev Fr Joseph M Thohrii, who addressed the youth on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope, moving forward in synodality.”
With 65% of the Indian population under the age of 35, he noted the immense potential for youth to become agents of transformation within the Church and society.
“Faith must not only grow, it must glow,” Fr. Joseph said, encouraging youth to build meaningful livelihoods and impactful lifestyles. He posed a challenge, citing how, like the Korean Wave (Hallyu), youth too can create a powerful cultural and spiritual impact through their Catholic faith.
Touching on the post-COVID return of many youth to their home states, he framed it as a moment of renewed possibility for the Church. Referring to the over 2000 delegates attending the convention, he urged these youth to become creative contributors to the Church.
The priest urged youth to remain motivated and professional in their vocations, drawing an analogy with the Chinese bamboo, which grows slowly but steadily, requiring constant nourishment before it shoots up rapidly.
The day concluded with a choreography competition, showcasing the creativity and energy of the participants. The first position was jointly clinched by the Dioceses of Itanagar and Aizawl while Dibrugarh Diocese bagged second position and third place was jointly awarded to the Diphu and Aizwal (Barack Valley) Dioceses. The prizes were handed over by former Commissioner of Nagaland, Rovilatuo Mor.
