National level

10th October, 2013, Trinity College, Jalandhar, Punjab: A Panel Discussion on the theme “My Faith – My Life’ was conducted as part of the ongoing IX National Youth Convention here in Jalandhar on 10th October 2013.

Most. Rev. Jacob Maar Barnabas, the Vice Chairman of the CBCI Office of the Youth was the moderator of the panel discussion. There were three resource persons: Mr. Albert Wilfred D’Souza the Chairman of 6 Educational Institutions at Palghar, Managing Director of Printania, Chairman of the Cooperative Bank and also the Vice Chairman of Christian Chamber of Coomerce and Industry, Mumbai, Mr. Cyril John the Parliament Secretary and the Chairman of the International Catholic Charismatic Council and Sr. Nirmalini AC, Member of Delhi Minority Commission, Regional Secretary of the Education Commission for all the Catholic institutes in North India, also the Secretary of Education of the Archdiocese of Delhi.

Mr. Albert Wilfred D’Souza , speaking to the youth said, “I am very happy to be here to address the Youth gathered from all over India. Earlier we Christians were labeled as ABCD people. And I did not know what it meant. A friend of mine told me – A for Aayas, B for Butlers, C for Cooks, and D for Drivers. I was very hurt as Christian and I wanted to change it. I told myself that we Catholic should change these ABCD into Advocate, Barristers, Commissioners, and Doctors. We should change from being a community of employees to employers. Hence I wanted to become an Entrepreneur. He said “Entrepreneurship is wanting to do something noteworthy.” He also explained to the Youth what is Christian Entrepreneur is. He said “Christian Entrepreneur is wanting to do something noteworthy based on the Gospel Values.” And he added that “Catholic Entrepreneur is what the society looks forward to, what it needs now.” And he requested the youth to become Catholic Entrepreneurs.

After him Rev. Sr. Nirmalini AC, addressed the youth. Speaking to the youth, she spoke about personal experience of encountering with God and how it changed her life totally. She said, “The Youth are the powerhouse of the Catholic Church.” Speaking about her personal experience she said, “As I was growing up, at the age of 19, God started knocking at the door of my heart. When I listened to this knock the call of God became clear to me. That I responded to the call of God and be able to faithful to it is Faith for me.” She said, “My encounter with the lord is not for watsap and facebook. It pushes me to go ahead to proclaim the Gospel.” When we encounter the Lord, the road ahead may be uncertain but the Lord is always with us in our journey to the road unknown.” She concluded by saying, “When we encounter Christ, there is no time to sit back and wait. God asks us to go today and now. Let us do what we can do for our Faith today and now.”

Mr. Cyril John said, “We all receive Faith when we receive Baptism; I would like to share my faith with you that I received when I was Baptized. Being a Parliament Secretary is a very demanding job. Yet I find time to express my faith in action. And that is only possible when we are deeply rooted in Faith. I say this, because very often we can close ourselves with the little job we do. But our faith should take us beyond it. Our Faith should be converted into action. When we give our time to the Lord, the Lord takes care of our office as well. In my office, I have not had any bad day. I was incharge of the Joint Parliament Committee for 2G spectrum scandal. I and my family prayed and fasted that this report should be passed. And the report was passed with majority of support from the members of the committee.” He concluded by saying that ‘our Faith is not for ourselves. It should be converted into action. Whatever capacity you may be in – Give your best to God.”

At the end of the talk, the delegates were given time to put questions to the panelists.

Bishop Jacob Maar Barnabas, the Moderator closed the discussion, quoting Pope Benedict “Baptized Christians should have a spiritual director”. May God guide to become entrepreneur without compromising the Gospel Values. He also thanked the panelists and said they are our role model and youth should take them as their idol.

Rev. Fr. Franklin, the National Youth Director thanked the panelists for their inspiring message and honoured them with the bouquets and mementos.

Report by : Fr Felx Antony, DYD - Miao Diocese-Arunachal Pradesh