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News & Pics: Rev. Fr Charles Menezes

Mangalore, Dec. 9: III world Congress on the Pastoral Care of International Students was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrant ants and Itinerant people from 30th November to 3rd December 2011. The theme of the Programme was International Students and Meeting of Cultures. 135 participants were present from 36 countries which have highest flow of international students.

Most  Rev   Oswald Lewis, Bishop of Jaipur and Chairman Bishop of CBCI office of Laity, Rev Fr Charles Menezes ,   YCS/YSM National Chaplain  and Ms. Shwetha Joyce Rasquinha, Lecturer M.S.W Department  St. Aloysius College and Ph.D Scholar of Mangalore University represented India as a student representative.

Four days conference was of reflection and sharing the meaning and implications, demands and benefits of the meeting of cultures in the world of International students.  The highly qualified talks in this Congress, by personalities with an excellent academic ecclesial preparation, have contributed to a deeper understanding of the nexus between culture and the Gospel, culture and education, the impact of the meeting of cultures on faith and on the values of the young people as well as on youth models today.

The main event, which added grandeur, joy and significance to our Third World Congress was the Audience with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on Friday 2nd December 2011 at the Apostolic palace. This was a unique and solemn occasion for all of us as the Holy Father once again recognized the importance of this particular pastoral solicitude of the Church, also as a gesture of encouraging the international student s and of appreciating the work of those committed to this field of pastoral activity. He said “ The youth are the architects of the encounter between the cultures. The coming together of the university students may promote a new generation capable of a dialogue and discernment, with a sense of responsibility for respect and cooperation, collaboration for peace and development. The 3rd world congress of the pastoral animators for the university students promoted by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral works among the migrants and itinerant people”. 

The Pope stressed the point that the culture has a fundamental role in the full realization of man as an individual and as community. Without culture a man and a woman cannot realize a level of life that is truly and fully human. He hoped that such meetings are important for the future of the humanity and of the church. The university students make up for the church, an area of privilege for evangelization.

It was a rare occasion for Ms. Shwetha Joyce Rasquinha to meet the Pope personally and get his Papal blessings at which he said that he does pray for India in a special way for the realization of Kingdom of God.

Ms. Shwetha Joyce Rasquinha belongs to Vittla Parish and she was a YCS member and presently YCS animator in Mangalore Diocese.