Kochi: The vibrant silver jubilee celebrations of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) culminated on Sunday with a deeply spiritual and joy-filled Concluding Mass of the Witness National Youth Conference at the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala. The Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of both the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), brought together over 3,500 young leaders and 200 priests from across the nation.
In a moment of anticipation and excitement, Fr. Chetan Machado, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Youth Commission, announced that Odisha will host the next National Youth Gathering in 2026. The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause from the assembly. Accepting the honour, Fr. Prakash Kiro, Regional Youth Director of Odisha, extended a heartfelt invitation to all participants, calling Odisha “the land of tribals and temples,” and promising a warm welcome steeped in faith and tradition.
The closing ceremony was graced by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma as the chief guest, whose address inspired the young audience to remain steadfast in faith while leading change in society. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão formally declared the Jubilee Year closed, marking the end of a landmark chapter in the movement’s history. Bishop Ignatius D’Souza, Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Youth and Bishop of Bareilly, welcomed the delegates, while Fr. Chetan Machado offered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all organizers and participants. Mr. Raj Bagh, National President of ICYM, introduced the final ceremony, and Ms. Supriya Varghese, National Secretary, led the missionary pledge, affirming the youth’s dedication to serve the Church and society.
The five-day national youth conference served as a spiritual renewal and mission-affirming platform for India’s Catholic youth. Organized by the CCBI Youth Commission, the event was filled with Eucharistic celebrations, testimonies, cultural evenings, and workshops on faith leadership. Participants described it as a life-transforming experience that deepened their relationship with God and strengthened their unity as one Church.
“These five days were spiritually nourishing,” said Ms. Apoorva Xess from Chhattisgarh. “It gave me the strength to renew my faith and reminded me of the beauty of serving Jesus and His Church.”
Another delegate, Mr. Kalyan from Andhra Pradesh, shared, “Witness 2025 was a memorable and enriching event. Meeting vibrant youth from diverse cultures and languages reaffirmed my belief that the Church in India is truly alive and young.”
As the curtains fell on the Jubilee Year, there was a renewed sense of purpose, unity, and missionary zeal among participants. The ICYM, which has journeyed for 25 years as the official youth movement of the Catholic Church in India, now looks ahead to Odisha 2026, where thousands of young believers will once again gather united by faith, inspired by mission, and strengthened by the spirit of communion.
The silver jubilee may have concluded, but its legacy continues to echo through the hearts of the youth who have pledged to be, in the words of Cardinal Ferrão, “the present and the future of the Church.”