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Nadiad, Gujarat, May 25 : The animators from all over India landed at Nadiad on the 18th May morning and were ready to take up the learning mantle of YCS/YSM. Altogether 31 animators and 8 Exco members took part in it. Having registered their names and refreshments, they were given the knowhow of the programme and geography of the place at 10 am.

18th May 2012
At 11 am inaugural mass was offered by Fr. Titus D’ Costa, the former youth director of Ahmadabad. He declared the programme open and requested the animators to give their heart and soul to these programmes since this is very important to work for the student community and teenagers. “Your selfless service will not go waste instead it will bear much fruit in the teenagers and for yourselves”, he said.

After lunch Loucille Alcala, the former IYCS Program coordinator introduced the programme to the animators and gave the dynamics of the programme. Having heard about their expectations and aspirations she led them to several games and value based activities to make them feel at home and know each other well. She kept them busy all through the day by making them play several games which would be a help for the animators to use them in their own units. The day ended with the evening prayers and supper.

19th May 2012
The day began with Mass at 7 am presided by Archbishop Leo Cornelio, Chairman of the Office for Youth. He gave a very good message in serving the youth of the country at the very early age in the schools and colleges thus to have a true Christian youth force for the service of the society.

At 9 am Fr. Charles introduced the Archbishop to the group of animators and welcomed him. Archbishop in his message asked the animators to sacrifice themselves for the service of the teenagers and students which is sacred job to do. He asked them to bring a change in themselves, willingness to take risks in life in order to do our best, to alter the difficulties to our level so that they can be overcome and to be rational in our thoughts and deeds. He expressed his happiness for having made to this programme though it is a far off place for many of them.  He met all of them personally and wished them all the very best in their mission through YCS/YSM.
This was followed by the session focused on student reality and student psychology by Loucille where concerns, challenges, interests and enthusiasms of the students were discussed.

The second session emphasized on the existing contradictions or gaps between the student reality and spiritual necessities that can be bridged to a great extent by the YCS/YSM. Discussions were held regarding what is YCS/YSM, how it is a student movement, global movement, spiritual movement and an action oriented movement aided by the power point presentation. Apart from this we had innumerable ice breakers and action songs throughout the day. After supper, Mr. Leo Joseph showed a video: “Introducing YCS YSM India” and later a panel discussion held between the animators and the EXCO members where the latter shared their own experience in the movement and how it had changed their life. After about an hour of discussion the day ended with a prayer.

20 May 2012
The day started with the mass offered by Fr. Roshan and he preached on the Ascension of the Lord. After breakfast Fr. Charles led us to some action songs and informed us about the need to do these songs which will help us come down to the level of children. A short video clipping is shown about it.

Later Mr. Manoj Mathew, the former IYCS Secretary General gave us the History of the movement. He made us read through the pages and guided us through flash cards. He explained the concepts of how YCS came into existence and its importance in the life of a student. Cardijn’s life was explained clearly which made us understand the sufferings of the people at that time and apply that into today’s situation. When people suffer they come together as it happens even today in the world. Workers came together and today the students need to come together and to do so they need our help.

After tea a clipping was shown about Cardijn and Manoj said that workers work for workers, students work for students and peer circle work for peer circle. He said as YCS/YSM animators we need to go out of the way, need to be more open minded and clarified us how a group or cell works together and how an animator need to accompany them in the Review of Life.

We had a discussion as regards how we conduct the cell meetings in our schools; there were 2 questions, what and why. We shared our experiences on the said topics and issues and discussing it at length we set forth for lunch.

Post lunch each animator had to speak for 1 minute as regards, who you are and what can you do as YCS/YSM animator. Then “Anita the bee keeper” was shown to us and Fr. Charles made us play Value housie and guided us to understand as to how we need to have some important values as animators.

Then we were guided as regards exposure visit and sent to view the reality in 5 groups. We were to see the reality, find out its causes and consequences, share among ourselves and report it to the group. We went to slums and houses of Indiranagar and did a through observation, questioned the people and having come back presented the reality on the chart paper and explained to the group. Each group tried their level best to make it more meaningful putting all the ideas together. A documentary “Banking on the Change” was shown and we had the evaluation on it. The day ended with lots of lifelong experiences, hectic but worth learning experiences.

21 May 2012
The day began with mass at 7 am offered by Fr. Robin. Fr. Cedric Prakash S.J was the resource person of the day who asked us to share about the social reality with the review of exposure visit and structures existing in the society.

Session 2 focused on the 4 points, namely, the social reality, social analysis, structural analysis and why it is so important for every YCS/YSMer to see things, to analyze and to take action on social issues. He made us understand the reality of the society which is seen to the bare eyes but also the structures beneath that which never allow the change to take place in the reality. The systems and structures remain hidden which we need to understand and constantly ask the question WHY?

Afternoon we went to AMUL factory to see the marvelous work done by the farmers themselves. We understood the unity among the milk sellers who stood together against the landlords who were using their products for their own benefit. The guide explained us the working procedure very well.

Session 3 was conducted by Manoj Mathew that focused on the theological reflection of YCS/YSM. The spirituality of YCS which contains three parts, the truth of life, truth of faith and truth of action was explained to us well. It was tough but worth trying to understand. Session 4 was about the sharing of experiences of the animators in which Loucille, Manoj Mathew and Leo Joseph shared their experiences in YCS/YSM which was inspiring and made us all fill our eyes with tears. We believe that one day we too will have those great experiences to share with others.

22 May 2012
The day began with the mass on the theme how do I conduct myself led by Fr. Ranjith Minj. The first session was a lesson on deepening the YCS methodology by Fr. Charles and Manoj Mathew followed by the YCS spirituality by Fr. Franklin who also focused on the prophetic role of an animator. Visuals were shown to make us understand that having all the limbs and talents given by God we need to do more and doing it to the student community would fetch good results which is our mission.

The next session was on Education – Academic Vs Mission by Mr. Rathilal Jadav and C. R. Christy which enlightened us to take up teaching as a mission than academics.

After dinner we had a vibrant Quiz competition on YCS/YSM. Two outstanding quotes of the day were “Joy is the gift of the Holy Spirit” and “Pain is the greatest gain”.

23 May 2012
The theme of the day was Animation and during the Eucharistic celebration Fr. Lawrence clearly explained us the meaning of the Way to Emmaus and to walk with Jesus. After breakfast we were shown a video clipping on how a person helps others and in return how he is helped by others to show that what we do to the people will be done to us by God through others. Then we tried to draw a picture of our most loved person eyes closed which made us understand that how little we know about our loved ones and how much more we need to do for others. Then Fr. Charles explained us the topic what is Animation in detail and why we should be working for the students and children as regards their identity, recognition, process of decision making and understanding their childhood, family background and reality of life.

YCS/YSM is a growth oriented movement and as YCS animators we need to accompany the teenagers in their growth and life process which leads them not in ‘doing something’ rather ‘becoming somebody’. During the tea break we were blindfolded and one led the other to the tea which made us understand the accompanying part of the animation process.

Later the journey of an animator was discussed in relation the Way to Emmaus in detail followed by the tips and qualities an animator should possess. Then Loucille explained us the three truths of YCS, truth of life, truth of faith and truth of action which is the basic idea of YCS spirituality. We had a discussion on how to organize YCS/YSM in the given situation.

Fr. Alwyn D’Souza conducted the session on SWOT analysis. He helped us to know our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which helped us to prepare a plan of action for our unit as well as our diocese. A slide on the power of the dream was shown to boost us do our ministry effectively.

After dinner we had discussion on SWOT analysis and Fr. Charles gave us information about reorganizing the movement effectively in our diocese, about Search magazine and day to day dealings of YCS/YSM. The day ended with evaluation.

24 May 2012
The day started with Fr. Alwyn’s session on Goal setting and Team building. He gave a clear picture of how it has to be done. It helped us to understand the strategies of starting a movement. Fr. Charles continued about how to organize the movement in schools, parish and institutions and how to conduct cell meetings. He insisted that the movement should be cell based without which it is not YCS/YSM. We were asked to make the action plan and to submit which will be followed up in the forthcoming meetings. Then we had an individual evaluation on the whole programme. Each one had to write their experiences and submit for the good of the forthcoming programmes.

At 11 am Bishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmadabad offered mass for us and encouraged us to take active part in the movement and promised his support to revive the movement in Ahmadabad diocese. He gave a call to love one another as Jesus has loved us which would be realized in YCS/YSM in the real sense of the call of Jesus.
After mass the concluding programme was held in which a few participants shared their experiences and showed their appreciation about how it will help them rebuild the movement to a greater height. Bishop gave away certificates and mementoes to all the participants. Fr. Lawrence appreciated the enthusiasm of the participants and Fr. Charles thanked all the participants, resource persons, Exco members, Fr. Lawrence  and pastoral centre staff for making this programme a grand success. We hope all will go back rejuvenated to work for the student and teenage community in the manner of mission in their life which would fetch good results in making our young ones true Christian and social leaders of the society.