'Radiant 2024' ICYM Kasaragod Vicarate Yumahahotsav in Bela Church

The Kasaragod Deanery ICYM Yuvamahotsav, titled Radiant 2024, was held at the *Bela Church Campus* on Sunday, August 25, 2024. The event was a collaborative effort between ICYM Bela and the ICYM Kasaragod Executive Committee.

The program began with the presidents of all units hoisting their respective flags. The official segment commenced with a prayer dance performed by the Marian Sodality children of Bela Parish. Following this, Fr. Stany Pereira, the Vicar Forane of Kasaragod Deanery and Parish Priest of Bela Church, inaugurated the event by unveiling the banner with the theme "Radiant 2024: Igniting the Spirit Within."

Fr. Stany delivered the inaugural speech, wishing the participants well and encouraging them to make the most of the opportunities presented. Mr. Cyril Crasta, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Bela, also spoke, offering words of encouragement and inspiration to the attendees.

A birthday celebration for Fr. Stany was organized in honor of his recent birthday earlier this month.

Once the official ceremonies concluded, Mr. Joel and his Executive Committee engaged everyone with various activities and games. Following this, a session on "The Youth: The Architects of Tomorrow's Society" was conducted by Fr. Naveen Pinto, the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Mangalore. The session prompted a lively question-and-answer period, allowing participants to engage deeply with the topic.

At noon, everyone gathered in the church for the Holy Eucharistic Celebration. After the Mass, a delicious lunch was served.

The afternoon continued with more games, enhancing the energy and excitement of the event. As evening approached, several units presented diverse cultural performances, showcasing their talents.

Fr. Vishal Monis, the Director of ICYM Kasaragod Deanery, delivered a message to the youth, emphasizing the importance of leadership in building a better tomorrow.

During the concluding ceremony, Fr. Stany Pereira presided as President, with Miss Wencita Dias, Youth Icon and Actress, serving as the chief guest. Other dignitaries included Mr. Winston Sequeira, President of ICYM Mangalore; Mr. Nihan Sequeira, Vice President of ICYM Mangalore; Mr. Stany Nela, Production Director of Daijiworld; and various executive committee members of ICYM Kasaragod and Bela.

Miss Wencita Dias was felicitated by the dignitaries.

In his presidential address, Fr. Stany Pereira stated, "I have seen a lot of potential in the youth of Kasaragod. Many times, I have felt that with proper guidance and motivation, they could become extraordinary individuals in society. We, the leadership of the vicariate, always stand with these youth for their betterment. I urge the members of ICYM not to limit themselves to their units or vicariate. The world is open, and you should conquer it in any way you can."

Stany Bela, in his speech, said, "ICYM laid a strong foundation for my personal and public life. Because of ICYM, I learned many things, especially about understanding society. In my observation, young minds are always capable of producing positive messages through their observation and learning capacity. The youthful minds never remain quiet after listening to lectures or messages. They always think of creating something good and new from it. Today, society awaits youth to react to various issues, incidents, and happenings. The corrective and collective response of the youth always impacts society, just as Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda, Karl Marx, and Jesus Christ did in their youth. Youth should adopt a culture of questioning social evils, inhuman practices, and illogical customs. Organizations like ICYM should pave the way for this."

Addressing the youth, Wencita Dias said, "Through passion and dedication, I found success in the entertainment field. I never wanted to miss opportunities and never said 'no time' when opportunities knocked on my door. Only through hard work and commitment can we achieve something in life. So do not look back. Grab the opportunities and make them yours."

The final highlight of the day was a DJ performance, where all participants gathered energetically, bringing a vibrant conclusion to a memorable event.