Khrist Jyothi Province (Lumen Christi), Raipur, INDIA

KHRIST JOYTI PROVINCE The word KHRIST JYOTHI means Light of Christ In other words Lumen Christi Our province is situated in the Northern part of India. Dominated by Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. Christians are the minority. We as Pallottines are called to be the Light of Christ in this part of the world.

The Diversity There are Many religions, cultures, Languaages and diverse ethnic groups and over 1000 languages. Dialects And their Traditions.

The Population of India

Hindus81.3% Muslims12% Christians2.3% Sikhs1.9%

Catholics Dioceses 128 Priests Sisters Religious Colleges – Schools Technical Schools Hospitals Publications and press 292

There are lot of divisive forces in the country

What the youth can do today? In such a huge continent What is our role? We try to light a lamp We try to shine

Various apostolate in the Province:  Parish Apostolate  Education,  Taking care of the lepers and HIV patients in collaboration with others.  Preaching Ministry,  Running children homes,

PARISH APOSTOLATE

EDUCATION APOSTOLATE

EDUCATION APOSTOLATE CONSISTS OF Schools College International Residential School B.Ed. Colleges Hostels Children Homes

YOUTH MINISTRY IN KHRIST JYOTHI PROVINCE, INDIA

YOUTH MINISTRY Youth ministry is a challenging ministry in the church today. The youth ministry is Finding God among the young. It is not only programs, not religion, not creed but finding God in personal life, so it is people and relationships, Christ as the centre of Christian lives. It is a new radical life changing, personal encounter with Jesus.

GOAL OF YOUTH MINISTRY BECOME, BELONG AND BRIGHTEN Means, It is a total “PERSONAL” and “SPIRITUAL” growth in Christ. It is a culture of participation, active Citizenship and Agents of transformation. When one encounters Christ he/she becomes a transformed person.

So we invite the young: To Live …………………………Physical To Learn……………………….Intellectual To Love………………………… Emotional and To Leave Legacy…………….Spiritual

CHALLENGES IN YOUTH MINISTRY Problems and possibilities T IME U NEMPLOYMENT P OVERTY F AITH FORMATION E DUCATION A LCOHOLISM, drug abuse, CRIME

TIME The time is a big factor for the youth today, they have time for everything except for the Church. They seem to have time for so many things but no time for the church activities. Coming to the church some how gives no meaning to them, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist seems meaningless.

The family breakdown, emergence of new cultures, Traditional values are slowly disappearing in the youth culture. The challenge for us today, is how to tap the strength of the young.

Encourage & animate the young ones to take active participation in the church activities One with the LordPraising the Lord

UNEMPLOYMENT Unemployment is the biggest problem of the youth today. Due to lack of proper employment they engage in different anti- social activities. We as a province are trying to help the youth in creating and finding employment, like, in collaboration with the Don Bosco Fathers under the tiltle DB Tech, we have helped find several working opportunities for the youth in the cities and metropolitans and created self- employment.

We try to create EMPLOYMENT for the youth

young living under poverty line Though India is a developing country and economically growing, majority of the young live below poverty line

One of the biggest challenge for young people is the poverty. Due to poverty they look for greener pasture. Leave their villages and go to the metropolitan cities in search of work. In this Endeavour many of them lose the way. Migration from the village to the city have become huge problem. The church is trying to stop the human trafficking, it has become the Herculean task for the Church today.

To face the challenges of poverty we try to train the young ones Providing computer trainingCollecting the Herbal medicines

FAITH FORMATION This is yet another Challenge in the youth ministry. We try to catch them young.

EDUCATION Education plays an important role in molding ones life and future, and personality development. There are so many young people today who never get to see the door of school because of the lack and money and poverty. To meet this challenge we have village school technical centers and different job oriented education for the youth.

EDUCATION

ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE Leads to disintegration – be careful!

Conclusion I would like to conclude with the exultation by Pope Francis during the 28 th world youth day in Brazil. ‘Have courage! You do not carry your cross alone! I carry it with you. I have overcome death and I have come to give you hope, to give you life' (John 3:16). There is no cross, big or small, in our life, which the Lord does not share with us. It is your life that Jesus wants to enter with His word, with His presence. Please, let Christ and His word enter your life, blossom and grow.