Young Indian Catholics learn best-practices to engage well on social media
By Vatican News – Guwahati, India
Nov 9 2023
Over 450 youth leaders in India attend the 5th National Youth Conference in Guwahati, focusing on family values and responsible social media usage, reflecting on the Vatican document “Towards Full Presence”.
Over 450 youth leaders and youth directors gathered at the 5th National Youth Conference, organized by the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), which took place in Guwahati, in northeastern India.
The event, held at St. Francis de Sales School, Narengi, from October 23 to 27, was hosted by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Youth Commission, with Fr. Chethan Machado serving as its secretary.
The conference offered a diverse range of activities, including workshops, group discussions, animations, and region-specific cultural presentations. It attracted participants from various backgrounds and regions.
The primary focus of the conference was to delve into the importance of family, parents, grandparents, and the elderly in understanding the dynamics of family relationships.
Antony Judy, the National President of ICYM, urged young people to reflect on the profound message conveyed by the conference’s theme.
He called upon the young participants to demonstrate their affection, admiration, and steadfast obedience to parental authority.
One of the ten workshops featured at the conference was titled “Scrolling Minds: Unveiling the Impact of Social Media on Youth’s Personality and Mental Well-being,” led by Fr. Cyril Victor Joseph, the Coordinator of CCBI Media Apostolate.
Towards Full Presence
During this workshop, students were introduced to the recent document titled “Towards Full Presence” published by the Dicastery of Communication (Vatican News’ parent organization).
Attendees were encouraged to engage responsibly with social media and to become “good Samaritans” in the digital community.
The workshop shed light on the prevalence of social media and how it has transformed communication and interaction among young people.
Participants discussed social media usage patterns, exploring the frequency and duration of social media engagement among young people. Additionally, they raised questions about topics such as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the consequences of constant social comparison.
Honour your father and mother
The conference featured a dedicated logo with rich meaning and significance.
It depicted parents leading their children to the cross, symbolizing their path towards Jesus through the Church.
The eldest child follows the parents’ lead and held their younger sibling, exemplifying obedience to their parents’ call to follow Jesus as a family.
The chosen theme for the conference was adapted from the 3rd World Grandparents Day: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” – Vatican News
