Kottayam: In a vibrant celebration of faith and youth, the global youth conference ‘Eliora-2025’ was held online under the joint auspices of the Changanassery Archdiocese Pravasi Apostolate and the Archdiocese Yuvadeepti S.M.Y.M. as part of the Jubilee Year 2025 festivities. The program was formally inaugurated by Mar Thomas Tharayil, Archbishop of the Changanassery Archdiocese, who highlighted the vital role of young people in the life of the Church.
“The youth are dear to the Messiah and the Church. They should grow in the love of the Messiah and cherish their family and Church,” Archbishop Tharayil emphasized. He also reminded the Church of its responsibility toward young faithful who migrate abroad in search of work, urging communities to remain close to them and support their spiritual journey.
With an encouraging message, he told the young participants, “Do not despair, be courageous, be joyful. The Church will always be with you to pray and help you in your problems.” His words resonated deeply with over 150 young people from across the globe who joined the online gathering, symbolizing the Church’s commitment to fostering a global network of engaged youth.
Following the inauguration, a lively question-and-answer session was moderated by Jo Kavalam, Global Coordinator of the Pravasi Apostolate. Several Church leaders and organizers addressed the gathering, including Fr. Savio Manat and Fr. Treji Puthuveetilkalam, Directors of the Archdiocese of Yuvadeepti; Sabin Kuriakose, Gulf Secretary and Program Convener; and Arun Thoppil, President of the Archdiocese of Yuvadeepti. Fr. Jijo Marattukalam, Program Director, welcomed the participants, while Biju Mattancherry, Gulf Coordinator, concluded the session with a vote of thanks.
The event was further enriched by the dedicated efforts of Yuvadeepti office bearers Fr. Tony Puthuveetilkalam, Christy K. Kunjumon, Elisabeth Varghese, Alex K. Manjumel, and Pravasi Apostolate representatives including Geo Manalil (Australia), Smita Soni (USA), Jinto Kanacheri (Saudi Arabia), Nikhil Kalathil (Malta), and Jito James (Qatar). Their leadership ensured the smooth conduct of the program, making the conference an interactive and spiritually uplifting experience for all participants.
Through ‘Eliora-2025’, the Church not only celebrated the Jubilee Year but also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to nurturing the faith, courage, and global connectedness of its youth, calling them truly the priceless treasure of the Church.