“YCS Mangalore Diocesan Mercy Day Celebration’’ was celebrated on 12th September 2016 in Mangalore by the Central Council Members and all the 12 Deanery presidents / representatives in the diocese along with the Diocesan Director Fr. Rupesh Madtha. The Day was inaugurated with a Eucharistic Celebration celebrated by the Vicar General Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu and Fr Rupesh Madtha, followed by a special prayer for the participants. The Vicar General gave a call to the youngsters to take challenge to be merciful in the day today life as youth like Jesus.
The Day was celebrated not on a dais but in a meaningful, unique and practical manner. At 9:00 a.m. a total of 26 YCS members along with the Director voluntarily spread out into different institution and various work settings throughout the city (8 places) and began the Mercy Day filled with hard work and toil and worked just like any common laborer. The public who watched the youngsters were impressed by the hard work and the dedication of the blooming citizens. The whole day’s work concluded at 4:00 p.m. after which all members, the Director and the Animators visited Fr. Muller’s hospital where a total collection of Rs. 25,000 earned by the young students was distributed among 4 cancer patients of different religions. The members experienced the joy of spending their holiday with meaningful and fruitful charitable work. They also thanked the beneficiaries for accepting the fruit of their labor. The family members of the diseased with the tears of gratefulness expressed their gratitude towards the students. Fr Richard Coelho the Hospital administrator appreciated the goodwill of the YCS youngsters. Fr Rudolph D’Sa, the Medical College administrator, Sr Janet, YCS Diocesan Animators Mr Francis D’cunha, Mr Richard Alvares, Mr Arun D’souza, Mr Ronald D’ Silva, Mr Prajwal Sequeira, Mr Roshan Lobo and others were also present. The student leaders Jeswita Princy Quadros (National YCS President ), Lavita Rolita D’Souza (Diocesan President), Merita Albuquerque (Secretary), Justine Royal Fernandes and Aroline D’Souza (Vice Presidents), Ashwin D’ Souza (Regional YCS Treasurer) and other Office Bearers with the Director took lead in organizing the Day. Mr. Lanwin Neetha Lobo Urwa took care of the expenses of the Day.
The main objective of the Mercy Day Celebration was that the youth may inculcate love and concern towards the poor and the needy, for them to realize the toil and hardships done by their parents to earn a comfortable livelihood and also to be aware of the social reality, the value of money, the social awareness and the interreligious harmony. The meaningful and innovative idea emerged at the background of the Year of Mercy in the Church. The YCS students dedicated this day as a tribute to St. Theresa of Kolkata (Mother Theresa) who is canonized by the Holy Church on 4th Sept, 2016. On the appeal given by the Diocesan YCS Centre, many parish YCS units in the Diocese have taken initiative to celebrate the Mercy Day in noble, unique and meaningful ways. There are 102 YCS units in the Mangalore diocese spread out in 12 Deaneries.