YOUTH FAITH FEST, with a theme EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION FOR THE JOY OF TRUE GIVING, was well planned and by organized Sr Rita Fernandes and sisters Mazzarello Kendra for the youth of Karnataka region on 4th 5th of Nov. 2017. On Saturday, the 4th morning we were happy to welcome the youngsters coming from different parishes, colleges , institutions, working class, and parish associations , A name tag with a cheery bow , made them get connected to 168 members . Soon after a short refreshment they got into six groups of 20 – 25 in a creative way, getting further acquainted with one another.
The program initiated with the lighting of the lamb imploring God’s blessing and with an action song- Walking in the Light of the Lord . The animators were then introduced and the First session titled “ Ignite your Faith “- the key note session gave a good start by Rev. Fr. Richard Rodrigues, our parish priest. The Bible games, the action songs and the Biblical housie etc., helped the entire group to get effectively involved and enjoyable besides getting to know the scripture a little better by one and all. Sr. Diana Rodrigues fma , the youth 
animator of Bangalore province did conduct the session on ‘ Relating with God, Myself and neighbor ‘ in a very interesting way. After the camp-fire planning and tea break the third session on “ Family as the domestic Church “ was thoroughly dealt by Fr. Richard Rodrigues making it very relevant and applicable to daily living through his role plays and magical ways. During his session on Anger Management , the video clipping gripped their attention which reached its climax at the role play when one of the participants spontaneously ran to help out while all remained filled with emotion stunned & spell bound. His Holy Eucharistic Celebration and the holy hour adoration services were pregnant with deep interiority spending soul-searching moments to reconcile with God and man.
The morning meditation at the Arabian Sea shore is an unforgettable experience for days to come led by Rev , Milton Fernandes s d b . His dynamic sessions on Empowerment for the modern youth for an inner transformation did create a sense of inner strength and an attitudinal change. The nights’ camp fire gave all an out let to show their talents in acting, dancing and the D J music added extra life and zest to them and was ready to spend the whole night through. They highly appreciated the delicious meals generously served on time . At the evaluation all expressed their thanks for giving such a grand opportunity to experience something great for life and requested to have such sessions at least twice a year. The youth Fest ended after thanking every one and exhorting them to live the values learned and the memory to be kept alive in the days to come. The community worked hard and spent anxious moments too but felt inner joy and prayed for good and holy vocations for the Salesian family which is little known in this diocese.