Year of Faith, an international meeting brings young Catholics together in Kerala
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "A great opportunity to witness to the faith in
Christ along with different cultures, languages and ethnic groups", this
is how Msgr. Dereck
Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar (Karnataka), describes the participation of more
than 700 young Catholics of his community in the 8th International
Youth Conference (14-19 July), hosted every year by the Divine Retreat Centre
in Kerala.
"The
Year of Faith - says the prelate - has awakened the zeal and love for Christ in
the young people of our diocese. Through various programs, these youth have
embarked on a spiritual journey." In
light of this, participating in an international gathering is a unique
opportunity. Even
so, for economic reasons, the young people will not be able to participate in
the World Youth Day in Brazil (22-28 next July).
Thus,
said the bishop, "Fr. Royston Fernandes, Director of the diocesan youth center,
with the help of some benefactors was able to send more than 700 children to
Kerala, from the 72 parishes of the diocese, for this international
conference." For some
of them it is their first time to leave the diocese.
Karwar has a rich
Christian heritage. The
first church of India was built by the Portuguese island of Anjideev which,
while belonging to Goa, is very near Karwar. According
to tradition, the ancestors of the people of the Diocese of Karwar followed the
preaching of St. Francis Xavier and Fr. Juze
Vaz.
The
community has promoted various initiatives to celebrate the Year of Faith,. On
3 December 2012, the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chandavar - built in 1678
- was declared an official sanctuary of the diocese of Karwar. In January 2013 Msgr. Dereck
Fernandes launched a Center for World Apostolate of Fatima, at the church of
Molkod, located on the island and renamed Our Lady of Fatima.
The
island is home to Jains and Catholics, who have lived together in peace and
harmony for 200 years. (NC)
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07/02/2019 17:28
27/06/2008
