A spiritual journey to spread the message of family and love

Posted by Merlin Kevin

Every month, youngsters from various parishes gather in one of the Salesian parishes from Chennai region at 9.30 pm. This spiritual accompaniment is to educate the young in their faith through night vigils.

    "A retreat refreshes and revitalises, it gives the opportunity to spend more time in prayer, to contemplate and rekindle one's relationship with God. With this note we started our Youth Awake 2017 - Season 2, on February 25, 2017 and continued the series every last Saturday of the month until October 28, 2017,” says Fr. Mani Lazar, INM Province Youth Director.

    The Season 2 Youth Awake revolved around the theme Family and Love. Each month a diverse Biblical character, from Abraham to Cornelius, was hand picked and the youngsters were enlightened on the same by the animation of the Salesians. 

    “For our spiritual journey with the young, keeping the theme Family & Love, we have taken ‘The family of Aquila Priscilla’ for the night vigil of September. This vigil service took place at Francis Xavier Church, Broadway, Chennai. The place was well arranged and all the arrangements were done by the youngsters of the Parish. Fr. Sagayaraj SDB & Fr. Mani Lazar SDB animated the night vigil. Fr. Kamalesh SDB assisted the youngsters in the Confession. It was a rich experience for all of us to explore the characteristic features of the family at Aquila Priscilla, the family which had fulfilled the will of God,” informs Fr. Lazar.

    The agenda of Youth Awake is as follows:

    First session starts with praise and worship to welcome and invoke the Holy Spirit; Second session holds the Biblical character designation with a deeper understanding in line with the theme; Third session analyses the practical application of the learnt biblical character to the day to day life; Fourth session concludes with a meaningful confession, spiritual guidance and celebration of mass. 

    This Youth Awake is the collective effort of the province animation centres namely  Deepagam, Niraivagam and DBYES. Fr. Antony Christy, Fr. Parthiban, Fr. Paulraj and Fr. Mani Lazar have offered their spiritual guidance and animation towards the success of the programme. The last vigil in the Youth Awake 2017 - Season 2 will be held on November 25 and 26 at Lourdes Shrine, Perambur.

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