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SIOLIM DEANERY YOUTH DAY
Fr Bismarque ensured that the underlying message was effectively conveyed through the medium of music. The spiritual inputs were provided by Fr Anthony Dias, the Resource Person, who illustrated all that he had said through an educative skit. A discussion to analyse the underlying message followed. The Programme
The Games
There was a quiz competition relating to little-known yet significant facets of each of the eight villages besides other interesting things. A memento for the day-a shell necklace, with a pearl (not the real one though) representing preciousness-was released on the occasion. At the end of the Day, it became quite evident that the Catholic youth could be ideal role models for their peers in several spheres of activity in Goa. Happy ending
Fr Jose Roque Gonsalves, the Dean of the Siolim Deanery and parish priest of hosts Siolim, availed of the opportunity to suggest to the youth of Deanery to come together at least once in two months. He also sowed the inspiration of a magazine, which the youth could bring out if they were willing enough to do so. Says Alcina Fonseca, "All of us were quite excited about the entire happening. We now await for more events and programmes at the deanery level. Quite a few deaneries elsewhere in Goa seem to have put up similar programmes but we are told that none were so successful as the Siolim one. The response from the youth was tremendous and it was quite unexpected, in fact." Roussel Lobo |
CRIBBING that
modern youth is going astray in every way is in vain. Channeling
their bursting energies into fruitful or meaningful activities,
however, proves more meaningful. With a little care their latent
talent can be mined and their communication skills honed to produce
a progressive generation. Earnest efforts seem to originate, of
late, from the Catholic Church to understand the youth a bit better.
These efforts manifested themselves amply at the Siolim Deanery
Youth Day held at the St Anthony's Centre in Siolim on November 11,
2001.
Against the backdrop of the theme "You are Precious, I
need you", about 300 boys and girls from Siolim, Oxel, Tropa,
Camurlim, Anjuna (with Mazalvaddo having their own group), Assagao,
Badem and Vagator parishes, gathered enthusiastically for a day-long
happening. The event was adroitly co-ordinated by animators Alcina
Fonseca of Assagao and Lawrence Fernandes of Anjuna, under the
inspiring guidance of Fr Bismarque Dias, Priest Youth Animator for
the Siolim Deanery.
The participants
were divided into 10 groups of 30 members each. Co-operation and
co-ordination were seen at their best as each parish looked after a
particular aspect of the programme; Anjuna was responsible for the
melodious choir and the beautiful backdrop, Vagator for liturgy,
Assagao took charge of games, hosts Siolim did the registration and
provided the premises while Oxel excelled at catering. 
The entire
programme was based on the theme, "You are Precious, I need You".
The melodious religious songs were rendered by the Anjuna group,
with Rabin D'Pietro at the keyboards, leading the proceedings. Rabin
also designed the beautiful backdrop and composed the theme song.
There was a whole lot of action songs, led by Abigail Fernandes of
Siolim and her group. The subtle highlight was the highly educative
theme-based skit "What are you doing?" in which three sets of people
depicting each a housewife, student and a worker. The first one was
a disillusioned set, the second one was happy yet unsatisfied while
the last one was a ideal and contented.
Post
lunch, there were exciting competitions. There was a thrilling "War
Zone", in which the participants ate a slice of water-melon without
using their hands. It opened the floodgates of fun-filled games
featuring a pop-corn eating competition, proposal time, a
hair-raising experience, salesmen selling toothpaste to a blind
person, threading the polo sweet, etc. Though the prizes were no
great shakes, comperes--Alcina Fonseca of Assagao and Domnic D'Souza
of Anjuna--made sure that the participants vibed with total
excitement with every item on the agenda.
The memorable
Day ended with a Mass, the main celebrant being Fr Lucio Dias, the
Director of the Diocesan Youth Centre of the Western Region. Fr Dias
lauded the young participants and their animator Fr Bismarque Dias,
for the profusion of talent on display.