I joined the Movement when I was doing my IX STD in 1972. I had the influence of my sister Lilly Christy who was a full timer at that time. For the next 3 Years I took an active part in my cell. I had attended a zonal camp at Pondicherry.
In those years the movement was looked up as a stepping stone towards attaining leadership. Since I belonged to the Parish Cell of Neyveli, I had the opportunity to meet a number of families. The Movement aimed at inculcating basic human values, a faith commitment in Christ and an active involvement in the society. Many of the students who joined the movement belonged to the lower middle class and the orientation of the movement become more meaningful.
The social problems that prevailed at that time also enabled me to have a critical outlook. Non-touchability, Cast-discrimination and boy- girl seclusion provoked a serious of reflection which also had an impact on all my members. Thus the movement had to face the basic evils in the society. At one particular camp a boy and a girl were found speaking to one another in the hall while others were having dinner proved to be a disastrous which resulted in a crisis. The movement was about to be banned in the place.
When my elder sister worked as a full timer she has to travel with Mr. Selvaraj another full timer, a number of people used to come and accuse my dad for such a behavior. Inspite of all these the movement strengthened me and eventually helped our family.
It had motivated my sister to become a nun and it also guided me to opt for priesthood, it is all because the movement stood for equality of human beings irrespective of caste or creed.
After the Initial Formation
When I look back into my past, I feel full filled for having been part of my movement.
Though I left the seminary half-way through, the movement beckoned me once again in 1981 to work as a full timer and as a secretary in national office in 1983.
Now I am a teacher, still very much involved in the movement as an animator.
Today I stand for human values of equality and concern for people. I stand unique in my school because of my values. It is the formation given by the movement in the past, which still enables me to go out of my way in the formation of youngsters.
In the school, awareness programmes are conducted through the YCS members. In the parish efforts are put in to coordinate the youth work. In the family importance is given to all and motivating factors is faith and happiness than money or power.
I always tell my students that YCS/YSM alone will help them to live a true human life because it widens their outlook. The movement is also the only means of unity for all people in the county like India with much diversity.
Mr. Paul Doss
Ex-YCS YSM’ er