Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

KOINONIA
Cochin - June 29th to 01st July
(Hyderabad Report)

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

“THESE ARE DAYS THAT THE LORD HAS MADE TO CELEBRATE

SHOUT FOR JOY AND GIVE HIM GLORY TOGETHER”.

June 29th 2006

JOURNEY:
We traveled by Shabari Express, which started at 12:30 pm in the afternoon. We were 34 in all.
12 from CJITS college, while the rest from St. Francis and different college. We were guided by 2
Jesus youth leaders Shibu and Jarald and 2 religious sisters from St. Francis. This journey was
more prayer filled journey because twice a day there would be rosary and prayerful worship. It
was a very comfortable day long journey.

ACCOMODATION
We reached Ashirbhavan where we were given the accommodation. The whole premises
was very clean and peaceful. As soon as we reached we were divided into groups and
were given different rooms. The rooms were very comfortable and spacious. We were
given time till 4:30 to take rest. At 5 the sessions were to begin.

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

KOINONIA BEGINS

June 30th 2006

We started the koinonia program with a Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Cherrian the National Pastor
of Jesus Youth. As Jesus youth believes that any beginning would be meaningful with the holy
mass celebration. This was celebrated in the chapel which was located at the centre of
Ashirbhavan building.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Praise and worship

We entered our most favorite session praise and worship. Before, we felt that we were helpless,
betrayed, trapped by the situations around but the moment we started listening to the music and
songs our hearts were filled with joy and peace. We jumped and danced. The Music band was so
inspiring that each one of the them is a testimony and is being a fifth gospel in proclaiming
Christ. There were 8 people in the band. Each song they sang captivated our hearts to sing along
on and on and more curious to learn many more songs. After this beautiful session we had rosary
dedicating each decade to many intercessions especially made for campus ministry.

At night – 8:30 (dinner)

We had the session continuing in the conference hall itself. We had a talk given my Eddy Chettan
who is a Elder of Jesus youth. He gave a brief description about Jesus youth foundation. He also
inspired us by giving his testimony. He described about how he got the desire of taking the
initiative of being a Jesus youth. The first night itself the Jesus youth coordinator captured our
hearts with never-ending smile.

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

June 31st 2006

Session I - (Morning 6:15)

The second day began with the Holy Mass followed by praise and worship. This day’s praise and
worship was special one because it was led by brother Elvis who was a national coordinator of
Jesus youth. As we were singing some heart touching songs we were made to recall all our sins
and seek forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a renewal session for all of us. It went on
for quite some time.

Break fast - (Morning 8:00)

Session II - 9:15 am - Manoj Sunny

(International Co-ordinator)
Manoj Sunny is the International coordinator of Jesus youth and a very eminent speaker. He made
us realize individually that “I am called to live my life in it’s fullness as a daughter/son of my Creator
God for building up of His Kingdom.”
Including the importance of response to the call, he also talked about the purpose revealing about
the Lord. He shared his views about how youth should seek ways to happiness by trying many
things. The beautiful and the heart rending sentence with which he ended his speech was “ the
happiness you are seeking and have the right to enjoy because that has face”

Tea break

WORKSHOP
We were divided into different groups with the people whom we absolutely don’t know we made
many friends in our respective groups. We were given a sheet with few questions in it and some
time allotted for it to be discussed. These are the weak areas in our lives in some or the other way
effecting our response to the call. The work we did was confabulation about the weak areas in
each of our lives and made a commitment that we would follow Jesus. After this, we’ve been
asked to give names to our groups some of us named “the igniters, the cherubims, adidags” and
many more. Thought which was just a discussion but it was the time to realize how far are we
responding to the call and what are the steps to be taken for us to be ready for the call and walk
with Christ in a new image.

Lunch
This lunch was different from the rest of the days because we mixed well with new friends in
Christ.

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

Session III – Beena Chechi

Lead singer of Rex Band.
Our generation needs more of practicality and reality. Here comes for what we were waiting for.
She came up with her beautiful testimony and amazing talk about reality in life. She spoke about
the very important six pillars in a catholic life.

• Personal Prayer
• Word of God
• Sacraments
• Fellowship
• Evangelisation
• Service to the Poor.

Session IV- Eddy Chettan :

He taught us how to be man/woman with vision. He gave us few steps to become true leader.
Here are ten steps…
• Joyful and friendly
• Knowing God
• Searching God’s will
• Know and accept yourself
• Develop your talents
• Ready to serve and be helpful
• Be proud of your church
• Love your family and friends
• Be a witness
• Be a beautiful citizen

Session V- A choice given by Jesus youth.

There were three seminars conducted simultaneously on different subjects by different speakers at
different places.
• Gifts and chrisms of the Holy Spirit
• Praise and worship
• Evangelization for E-Generation

All of us have joined the groups of our own interest. We learnt many things.. there was lot of
useful information especially from evangelization for e-generation seminar. They showed us
mainly the impact of the media on the youth. That was the moment we realized many things
many of us took many decisions to put ourselves on the right track and reach the safe destination.

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

Session VI - Manoj Sunny

(International Co-ordinator)
Manoj came back with a different talk. It was very touching and informative too. He made us
realize that to be a leader is to be a witness. To achieve something you got to pay the price. He
asked us to follow Jesus who denied himself, who took up the cross, has been a personal witness
and lived as a High Priest giving us a chance of living a life of royal priest.

Session VII - TALK ABOUT HOLY SPIRIT

• Accept Jesus as your Lord
• Once you’re cleansed He would come in you guide you to the truth.
• He creates Himself in us and we form a new image

Session VIII
There was skit enacted by students of Kerala who gave us a beautiful message that Jesus – The
only way. And only this way we get happiness. And the session was followed by rosary and
adoration where each decade was dedicated for a revival in all the south indian campuses.

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 Jesus Youth – Changing the face of Youth

Ist July

The final day brought us closer and more awareness about the Jesus youth. Soji (Asst National
Co-ordinator) gave all information about the Jesus youth family. We were told few testimonies
about the Jesus youth full timers. We even witnessed a beautiful skit “tree of life” after that we
had mass celebration Followed by some life filled songs. We ended the session with praise and
worship. Truly it was spirit filled youth retreat for us. We admit that there was a revival in all of
us. Finally, we learnt as to how to be a good leader .This youth retreat has boosted up our energy
and brought many things out from us. In this age where we are filled with so many frustrations
“THAT GREAT LOVE WAS MISSING” but now it has made a DIFFERENCE. Because now we
have experienced CHRIST’S LOVE and each one of us feel responsible for each drop of blood he
shed for us .The Jesus youth has brought the sense of greater responsibility that we are
responsible for the lost souls in this young age.
WE BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY MAKING THIS PLACE A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN CHRIST FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION.
“NAY IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED
US”(ROM 8:37)…….AMEN
Destiny is not a chance, but it is a matter of choice. It is not to be waited for but it is meant to be
achieved.

CHRIST------------OUR DESTINY………..WE WILL ACHIEVE……….AMEN

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