6,500 Children Form Eucharistic Symbols at Mangaluru Diocesan Convention

MANGALURU, November 8, 2026: Around 6,500 children from 125 parishes of the Diocese of Mangalore came together on Sunday to form giant images of the Eucharistic Host, Chalice and Cross in a large-scale human formation at St Joseph Engineering College, Vamanjoor.

The formation was the highlight of ‘NINAAD – Burgyalem Festh 2K26’, a diocesan-level children’s convention organised as part of the ‘Year of Children 2026’ under the theme, ‘Our Children, Fruits of God’s Kingdom’.

The formation, captured through aerial drone footage, symbolised the centrality of the Eucharist in nurturing children’s faith and their identity as followers of Christ.

Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of Mangalore welcomed the participants and described children as the greatest treasure of the diocese.

“You are the greatest treasure of our Diocese and the true fruits of God’s Kingdom,” he said, urging them to remain rooted in Christ, draw strength from the Eucharist and become witnesses of love, courage and faith.

“Children of the kingdom of God shall have no fear of anything. You are our family, and protecting you is the responsibility of all of us,” he added.

Child protection and human dignity formed another key focus of the convention. Fr Francis Assisi Almeida, Karnataka Regional Secretary of the Education Commission and Syndicate Member of Bangalore City University, conducted an awareness session on child safety, offering practical legal guidance on identifying, preventing and addressing harassment. Around 1,000 parish animators and volunteers also attended the session.

A faith-sharing session on ‘Growing in Family, Faith, Responsibility and Resilience’, moderated by Manoj Fernandes, brought together speakers from different backgrounds to reflect on family values and the role of parents and communities in children's formation.

Michael D’Souza, a philanthropist from Puttur, spoke about how childhood struggles shaped his aspirations, encouraging children to value their parents, mother tongue and motherland.

Clement Pinto and Reshma Mary Rebello, teachers at St Philomena Aided High School and parents of five children, stressed the importance of nurturing responsibility among children. Vijay and Lavina Shanthi D’Souza of Bantwal highlighted the need for parents to spend quality time with their families.

Esther Grace Fernandes, a student of St Aloysius College, shared how her family had shaped her personal development and faith, while Anson Clement Nazareth, National Convenor of YCS/YSM India, spoke about the role of Church involvement in developing leadership and character.

The convention began with a procession featuring 125 children dressed as the patron saints of their respective parishes. The 12 deaneries presented tableaux depicting the history of salvation, from Creation to Pentecost.

Bishop Saldanha presided over the Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration, attended by Msgr Maxim Noronha, Vicar General; Fr Victor George D’Souza, Chancellor; Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Parish Priest of Vamanjoor; and several priests and religious. A choir of 100 children provided the liturgical music.

Children from different parishes presented a prayer dance composed by Fr Abel Lobo. The official convention theme song, composed by Fr Ronald D’Souza and sung by children, was presented through a musical animation by members of ICYM.

The convention was jointly organised by several diocesan commissions, including Family Life, Basic Ecclesial Communities, Youth, Education, Bible, Catechetics, Missionary Childhood, Social Communication, Vocation and Formation, and Proclamation and Evangelisation.

Fr Alwyn Richard D’Souza, convenor of NINAAD 2K26, thanked the diocesan leadership, parish animators, medical teams and safety personnel for their contributions to the event.

The convention brought together children, clergy, religious and lay volunteers from across the diocese, combining Eucharistic celebration, faith formation, child protection awareness and cultural activities as part of the diocesan initiative for children.

By Fr. Anil Fernandes