Manipur Catholic Youth Organisation Plans Mega Retreat Amid Unrest

IMPHAL, October 12, 2026: The Manipur Catholic Youth Organisation (MCYO) of the Archdiocese of Imphal will organise a three-day mega retreat for Catholic youth from October 16 to 18 at St Paul Retreat House, seeking to strengthen faith and foster unity among young people amid continuing unrest in the state.

As part of its preparations, the MCYO has been conducting online Rosary prayers to bring young people together, deepen their spiritual lives and promote fellowship across parishes. The prayer initiative has also helped generate interest in the upcoming retreat, with several young people expressing their willingness to participate.

Fr. Jacob, director of the MCYO, has appealed to priests, parish communities and Church organisations to support the initiative and encourage young people to take part.

He urged the faithful to pray for the retreat and its participants, expressing hope that the gathering would help young people encounter the Risen Christ, deepen their faith and experience spiritual renewal.

Fr Jacob also called on parish communities to organise youth groups, hold prayers with participants before their departure and provide financial assistance for travel wherever possible.

Emphasising the need for unity in youth ministry, he urged parish priests and leaders of Church organisations to encourage cooperation among different youth groups and movements, fostering a shared sense of belonging within the Church.

He further appealed to Church bodies to avoid scheduling competing programmes during the retreat, where possible, to ensure maximum participation and prevent divisions among youth groups.

The initiative comes amid continuing violence and displacement in Manipur, where tensions and unrest have affected communities across the hill and valley regions. The retreat aims to provide Catholic youth with an opportunity for prayer, fellowship and spiritual strengthening during a difficult period.

Fr. Jacob expressed gratitude to the clergy, parish communities and faithful for their continued support of faith formation and youth ministry in the archdiocese.

The MCYO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote spiritual growth and strengthen youth participation in the life of the Church.

By Catholic Connect Reporter