Sermons and speeches aren’t enough to get the youngsters involved.So the Archdiocesan Youth Commission, youth wing of the archdiocese of Bombay, is now planning a different approach.
During the Mumbai Youth Festival, which is to be held on December 13 at the Don Bosco ground in Matunga, the church will try and connect with the youth through music, dance, drama, live bands, etc.
“The only way to make the youth more aware is by ensuring that they have fun during the learning process,” said Father Anthony J Fernandes, director, Archdiocesan Youth Commission. “If you give them speeches, they are bound to run away.”
The theme of the festival is peace and harmony. About 5,000 youngsters between the age group of 16 to 25 years from Catholic organisations and colleges in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad will be participating and performing in the festival.
The programme will begin with a colourful parade, with floats with peace and harmony messages. This will be followed by performances from bands like By Grace1 and Focolare.
According to Father Walter D’Souza, assistant director of the youth commission, the Church is slowly changing to catch up with the world.
“Today, music and live performances attract the youngsters. Next time, we hope top pull in youths of all religions for such events,” he said.
“Even choirs have contemporary music. Liturgy norms have to be followed but we try to use prevalent chants instead of the Gregorian ones.”
Fernandes said, “The idea is not to stop at formation. Formation has to result in service to the society and the youngsters have to spread the message of peace and harmony. This is one of the tools to communicate with them.”
“We will also have stalls where information will be given out on RTI, women’s rights, domestic violence and human rights,” he added.
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