Puttur: 200 youths attend Lenten Retreat at Mai De Deus Church

Bellevision Media Network

Puttur, 27 Mar: To commemorate the Year of Youth 2019, ICYM and YCS St Paul Eastern Deanery, Puttur in collaboration with ICYM and YCS, Mai De Deus Church, Puttur organized a Youth Retreat for the youth of the deanery at Mai De Deus Church, here on Sunday, March 24 from 9.30am to 1.00pm. The retreat was led by Fr Robert D‘Souza, principal, Lourdes Central School, Bejai along with Blue Angels Choir, Mangaluru.

 

The retreat commenced with a solemn procession from the church premises to the entrance of the church. As a symbol of total surrender and faithfulness to God, a huge cross was carried by the youth and was brought to the sanctuary followed by the prayer of  the Holy Crucifix recited  by the youth with great devotion, united with the passion of Christ. The Eucharistic celebration began with angelic music and hymns.

 

Fr Robert D’Souza celebrated the Holy Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, Fr Robert emphasized and encouraged the youth to take up every opportunities to form strong friendships with others. Thus, it is a time to set aside the most active, most vibrant and most productive time in their lives to share the good news with others. The Youth had come forward with lots of anxieties, intentions, hopes, desires.

 

 

After a short interval, Eucharistic Adoration was conducted and various intentions, needs of the youth were brought before the Eucharistic. All the youth were called to pray for each other and all their needs. Finally, as an external sign of purification, Holy water was sprinkled upon the youth and all were blessed by laying hands on them.

 

Fr Alfred J Pinto – deanery vicar, St Paul Eastern Deanery and parish priest, Mai De Deus Church gave solemn blessing to the gathering. Jason Leroy Pereira - diocesan youth president, ICYM Mangaluru diocese interacted with the youth and appealed for their constant support to make Year of Youth a successful one. All the youth expressed their happiness towards the retreat. It was really a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn with bond and grow in their faith.

 

Fr Peter Gonsalves – parish priest, Holy Cross Church, Bellare; Fr Anil Roshan Lobo - director, YCS - St Paul Eastern Deanery and parish priest, St Rita’s Church, Panja; Fr Prashanth Fernandes OFM Cap – parish priest, St Antony Church, Bannur were present and specially prayed for the youth.

 

Fr Praveen D’Souza - director, ICYM St Paul Eastern Deanery and assistant parish priest, Mai De Deus Church, Puttur thanked Fr Robert for enlightening the youth with spiritual divinity and helped them to experience the love our savior Jesus Christ along with Blue Angels Choir, Mangaluru for their melodious voices in spreading divinity and the gathering for making this youth retreat a blessed one.

 

A total of 220 youths were present for the retreat.