Bishops Urged to Motivate Youth through Pastoral Care

(February 27, 2010) The 29^th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops of India which is now underway at Don Bosco Institute in Guwahati discussed in length the various aspects of youth for peace and harmony in the society on Thursday, February 25. Dr. Abraham Joseph, Reader of English at Mar Ivanios College Trivandrum, highlighted salient features of youth for peace and harmony which is also the theme of the Conference. He emphasized the role of the Church in formation of youth for peace and harmony. He said that the Church can play a vital importance by transferring the values of piety, selflessness, sacrifice and altruism and the religious heads must be the role models for youth. Dr. K. S. Manoj, former Member of the Parliament spoke about ‘Youth and Public Life’. He urged the Catholic religious heads to encourage and promote youth to take active part in politics and media which will determine the face of the nation in course of time. Dealing with the topic of ‘Migrant Youth’ Ms. Barbara S. Sangma, Lecturer at Don Bosco College, Tura expressed concern at the plight of the youth who are moving from rural areas to the urban in search of better prospects. She said that they experience physical, mental, spiritual, social and cultural alienation. She expressed her deep concern of the female migrants who are victims of rape and harassment. Sr. Maria Goretti Sangma from Shillong speaking on ‘Youth and Spirituality’ said that the young people of today find themselves in so many death dealing situations such as addictions, depression, loneliness, broken relationships, shattered dreams or the absence of dreams, broken family, academic failure, not being able to live up to the expectations of parents, suicidal tendencies, violence, death, discriminations based on caste, colour and religion etc need spiritual guidance and support.