Its very diificult to express all the vibrant colors, cultures, recipes, scenic beauties, hospitality and spirituality which i witnessed at ICYM VIII National Youth Convention at Shillong...Although it was my 3rd ICYM National Youth Convention, still i can say, i had the best time of my life at Shillong...For the first time ICYM introduced new concept of DID (Days in Diocese) in this Convention, in which all the delegates frm all over country will b staying at local parishes of Shillong in local parishners house...The motive behind this
concept was to make youth aware of different rich cultures n traditions of North-East by living with the local parishners. I along wid all the Youth of India witnessed n experienced the best hospitality frm North-East people regarding Welcome, Food, Travelling, Shelter as well as Abundant Love from the centremostpart of their heart.
Our Journey started on 8th Oct at 3.45 pm from Bhopal Main station. Everyone was very excited to experience the beauty of North East, as people say, North-East is the Scotland of India and yes, we all agree to that adjective of North-east. The journey was bit tiring in train, as we spent more than 56 hours just sitting, roaming here n there in different bogies n playing cards wid different Youth Directors of our Region. I must say all Youth Directors were more vibrant, enthusiastic n joyful in journey.
We all reached Guwahati by 4 pm n welcomed by volunteers at station. Then we all moved to a school, from where we all were divided into different groups, irregular of diocese n sent to different local churches of Guwahati. Our Group members were Fr. Alexander (Bhopal), Sr. Elcy n Sr. Biji
(Indore diocese) Ilene Francis (Jabalpur), Victor, Suresh, Abhishek, Lisha n Ruby (Indore), Caroline, Eline,Deep Saroj, Arun Mathew n Me (Bhopal). Well i didnt heard the name of our parish in the beginning but i was excited to be there. In the journey itself, one uncle came to us n told us that we are going to Nongpoh Parish. In the whole journey we all were trying to pronounce dat name correctly, in which we failed to do so. By 8pm, we all reached to Nongpoh Parish n we seen lots of people standing in their cultural attire in front of the church to welcome us. They all directed us to the Cultural hall of that parish, where all the parishners including very small kids, youth, uncle n aunts were ready to welcome us. They gave us very warm welcome through various regional songs, dance n few action songs. After that we all were divided to few families of the church as the local guardian. After few minutes, mine and arun's name were called n one parishner's name "Mrs. Mariastella Lamare ". So suprisingly i seen a lady coming towards us. She hugged both of us n kissed on our cheeks n welcomed into her family. From there, we all went to home wid our respective family and we all need to report back to church by 8.30 am in the morning, for rest of the schedule of days in diocese.
As i n Arun mathew, was also staying wid a family of Mr. n Mrs. Lamare at Nongpoh Parish of Shillong, i was fully pampered and concerned like their own children. Although they had big family consisting of 5 boys n 3 gals i.e, Robert, Albert, Cubert, Gilbert, Nicky and Rosa, Ninny n Luong, in which Rosa was married n was staying wid her in laws, just after 2 house in our neighbourhood. They all treated me like their own son as well as brother. Mom (Mrs. Lamare) used to feed me with her best recipes in every meal of day n night. She was really concerned about my taste and used to ask me always whether i m liking the taste of food or not. Well taste was not like our Bhopali cuisines but i was always over-eaten coz i found the magical ingredient in those food was LOVE. After dat i seen another inspiring thing in their family was prayer. They used to hav daily early morning prayer n bible reading as well as night prayer after supper. After finishing prayer, both mom n dad used to bless each one of their children by keeping their hand on kids head n used to pray for both of us also in the same manner, which i felt very touching to the core of my heart.
Although we had busy schedule in the day time, as we used to visit different parishes,convents as well as schools of that locality but wherever we went, we found lots of people gathered for welcoming us and making us feel special with watever they had. We seen lots of scenic beauties, lush green fields, looming mountains and zigzag roads throughout our journey. As we all reached St. Luke's church in the evening, we all were surprised to see that whole church was filled wid parishioners including small kids, young guys n girls, uncles , aunts n everybody was there to have Rosary. I was really mesmerized to see a huge number of devotees are in front of Mother Mary, to thank Her n to receive more blessings. All that made me feel more closed to Mother Mary and we all did Rosary there.
On last day, when i was leaving to main event place of National Youth Convention,where all the delegates will reach to proceed the Tri-year annual meeting of ICYM members, mom called me with hiding sumthing in hand behind her back. I wasn't able to understand what it can be, but when she
tried to put in my pocket, i came to know that it was money. I was really surprised and tried to run away from her but she was not leaving me. So i asked her, why she is giving me money ?? She told me that its their custom that whenever kids go out from house, they used to give money for their financial security. I was literally cried in my heart by experiencing so much of love from her and family. I replied to her that i m having enough money with me, so i dont need it. Still she didnt listened to me and put sum into my pocket I wasnt able to deny after that coz it was true love of a mother to her son. I thanked her so many times n again she hugged n kissed my cheeks n wished me pleasant stay at Convention. After that, my vehicle was ready to drop me to the pandal of Convention. That's how all three days ended at days in diocese, which made an unseperable remark in my heart filled wid lotsa love n care which i found there in home, away from my home.
After reaching to Laitumkhrah, Don Bosco School as accomdation site, all our M.P.Regional delegates were together again n was trying to tell each other, how they all felt being with Local parishners. They all too had same experience as mine n some had more than mine. From evening itself,Inaugural function started with mass at Cathedral Parish, which was near to our accomodation site,followed by Regional Procession of different regions of India. We all were dancing, shouting, singing throughout the procession followed by a creative slogan "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, MP Region Superstar". We all reached pandal n after that Inaugural function started with Lots of vibrant dance, songs n cultural parade of North-East. In dis way, day ended with paining legs and soar throat, coz of dancing in actionsong and shouting slogans in the regional procession.
Another inspiring thing, which touched a lot to me, in the morning. i wake up early ncalled Arun also to go for a morning walk, as dawn is so beautiful there. As you can see, mountains are half covered by clouds and very dim light coming behind from mountains. So we both geared up with sum winter jackets and camera to click some scenic beauties while walk. After walking some 300 metres, we seen a bigcrowd of young kids, youths, ladies and gents keeping bible in their hands going towards Cathedral Parish to attend mass at 5.30 am in approx. 14 degree temperature. I was really surprised to see the committment and spirituality of the North-East people, that all were dressed up so nicely and going to attend mass so early inthe morning and each one of them carrying Bible in that bone-freezing temperature. There i realised how God is working between them coz all the people are truely seeking wisdom of God through daily prayers and attending daily mass. After a while, i felt ashamed coz i never thought of this kind of commitment towards
church. Along with that, a sudden thought came to me that i went to almost every church here in Bhopaland i seen lots of people comes to church when Celebrant Father used to say the last blessings of the Mass. All those things made me feel bit pity on our bhopal people. After that, while ending up our morning walk, we both discussed all the things which we noticed here (Bhopal) and was comparing with Shillong.
Rest of the convention days spent attending lots of workshops, seminars, group activities, making new friends from every part of our country, Holy mass as well as region wise cultural programs every evening. On the last day of Convention, there was a Holy Mass at Calvary, just in front of Cathedral Parish. It was another breath-taking moment for me, coz for that Holy Mass, there were more than 1,00,000 (yes, u read that right, its 1 Lakh) people gathered..I was so happy to be in the crowd of soldiers of Christ and another blessing i got through that Mass, as it was offered by His excellency Most Rev. Salvatore Pinnacchio, Papal Nuncio to India, was the chief celebrant. He Represents Our Pope Benedict XVI in India. After Mass, he came down within public and everyone was trying to touch him just once. I also tried for that but failed to do so, as crowd was huge in number and security was also not allowing anyone to go near to Him. Though many lucky ones touched him and got His blessings.
In this way, convention turned out to be the best days of my life wid unforgettable memories,specially the hospitality and spirituality which i witnessed in North-East. I am sure, there will b lots of people like me, who are still at hangover of National Youth Convention at Shillong, specially of Days in Doicese. Wish i could relive those moments again...........
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