175 Catholic Youth Gather in Vasai to Take Personal Ownership and Help Rebuild the Church Together!

VASAI YOUTH URGED TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR REBUILDING THE CHURCH UMRALE, MAHARASHTRA — In an inspiring call to action, 175 young Catholics representing nine parishes across the Nirmal Deanery gathered at St. Joseph Church, Umrale, for a landmark youth rally designed to redefine youth participation in the Catholic Church Held under the theme “Rebuilding the Church with Joy: Embracing the Spirituality of St. Francis,” the event formed a key part of regional celebrations marking 800 years of the Franciscan tradition Rather than discussing abstract expectations of institutional leadership, the gathering challenged participants to translate the ancient call to "rebuild My Church" into personal, everyday commitments of time, talent, relationships, and service St. Francis as an "IRL" Example of Joyful Faith Delivering the keynote address, Fr. Nitin D'Souza OFM, parish priest of St. Joseph Church, presented St. Francis of Assisi as an "IRL" — "In Real Life" — model for joyful Gospel living He encouraged the youth to consider how Franciscan values can actively shape their daily choices, family dynamics, college interactions, workplace ethics, and parish involvement The program also featured an original inspirational song composed specifically for the occasion by Fr. Nitin D'Souza Fr. Jonny Nigrel, Dean of the Nirmal Deanery, also addressed the youth, urging them to embrace their unique roles within the faith community Shifting the Mindset: From "The Church Should..." to "I Should..." A central component of the rally involved dividing the 175 participants into eight interactive discussion groups The delegates examined what makes young people feel genuinely at home in the Church versus what makes them feel like outsiders The primary exercise challenged participants to reframe their perspective by replacing the statement “The Church should…” with “I should…” Groups explored how Christian faith can be made visible beyond church walls and reflected on the distinct gifts that each individual can contribute to the community The Wall of Commitment The reflective sessions culminated in a symbolic project titled “The Church I Will Build — A Wall of Commitment” Each attendee was presented with a direct question: “If Jesus said to you, ‘Go, rebuild My Church’ — what is ONE thing you would do?” Every participant then identified and recorded one concrete personal pledge, affixing it to the commitment wall Supported by Fr. Xavier, Fr. Ashley, and the youth volunteers of St. Joseph Church, the rally seamlessly blended deep discussion with lively music, prayer, and fellowship The event concluded with a solemn period of Eucharistic Adoration, followed by dinner and community fellowship By placing personal accountability at the heart of the rally, organizers provided a practical, modern expression of the Franciscan mission—demonstrating that the future and vitality of the Church lie directly in the hands of its young believers