Bengaluru, CCBI Secretariat ,24 July 2025:The 33rd Jesus Youth Full-Time Volunteers Training Programme was held at Atmadarshan, Aluva, under the care of the Manjummel Province of the Discalced Carmelites in Kerala. As part of this dynamic missionary formation initiative, Sr Margarita Dias SCB, who represented Bishop Ambrose Pitchaimuthu, Bishop of Vellore and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Organizations (PMO), was invited through the PMO to contribute to the orientation.
Addressing twenty-six vibrant young participants from various dioceses across India, Sr Margarita delivered an insightful and engaging introduction to the mission of the Church in India. She shared about the CCBI, the Pontifical Mission Organizations, and the vision and mission of Communio as expressions of the Church’s evangelizing commitment in the Indian context. Her sessions on Christian Leadership and the Role of Youth in Mission and Evangelization were creatively presented through interactive activities, personal testimonies, action songs, and video clips showcasing real-life missionary experiences and the pastoral mission of the Church.
One of the most impactful moments came when Sr Margarita shared her personal testimony as a missionary—an experience that deeply touched the hearts of the young volunteers and strengthened their resolve to embrace their missionary calling with greater faith and courage.
The two days spent with these emerging missionaries were filled with prayer, reflection, and spiritual fellowship. The cultural programme vividly expressed India’s unity in diversity, with Sr Margarita’s joyful participation in an Visitation song adding a vibrant spark to the event's atmosphere.
A significant moment of inspiration was the visit to the tombs of dedicated Jesus Youth members like Fr Cherian and Miss Ajina, reminding all present of the legacy of faith and sacrifice that continues to fuel the movement’s mission.
A word of heartfelt appreciation goes to Mr Midhun Paul, International Coordinator of Jesus Youth, for his thoughtful initiative and generous invitation to include a meaningful orientation on the mission of the Church in India in this year’s formation programme. By creating space for this vital reflection, he helped the young volunteers deepen their understanding of their role in the Church’s evangelizing mission across the nation’s diverse and challenging contexts.
As the programme concluded, the spark ignited by Sr Margarita’s vibrant and passionate sharing left a lasting impression. Her message stirred a deeper awareness of the Church’s missionary mandate and inspired a renewed sense of purpose among the young participants. That spark, born of faith and missionary zeal, will continue to burn in their hearts as they journey through the year—ready to serve and witness wherever the Lord calls them.
By Fr Vignan Das
© 2026 CATHOLIC CONNECT POWERED BY ATCONLINE LLP