Quiz on Bible and Sacraments was organised for the youth gathered at Don Bosco Siliguri for the Youth Fest 2024. There were over 600 youth gathered from various Salesian parishes of Bengal, Sikkim, Bangladesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. There were four participants from each parish. In the written test there were participants from 19 parishes. And in the final show there were participants from 10 parishes. Br. Bernard Mardi SDB was the quiz master of the day. The quiz had five rounds – Individual round, Group round, Buzzer round, visual round and rapid fire round. In between there were questions for the audience as well. The winners of this quiz competition were awarded with the winner’s trophy and certificate.
A session on “Youth and Environment” was taken for the young people, of the Province of Kolkata, gathered at Don Bosco Siliguri for Youth Fest 2024. There were over 600 youth both boys and girls gathered for the same. This session was taken in mixed languages of English, Hindi, and Bengali as there were youth from different parts of Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Bangladesh. During the session the young people were made to realise the Encyclical letter of Pope Francis on Laudato Si as well as the Laudato Si Action Platform to make them aware of the importance of taking care of our common Home. They were also suggested with some action plans to be implemented in their personal life, in the family and as a parish community.
A four-day Course on Marian Devotion was held for the junior group of Missionaries of Charity Sisters from 22nd January to 25th January 2024. There were 21 participants for the course. The Marian course consisted of Marian dogmas, Mary in the Church, Mary in the scripture, Role of Mary as New Eve and Queen Mother, Contribution of Popes in the spread of Marian devotion, Major apparitions and Marian shrines in India and abroad, True Devotion to Mary, History and mystery of the Rosary, Study on apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI for the right ordering and development of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary ( Marialis Cultus), Post Apostolic letter of Pope John Paul the Second on the most Holy Rosary (Rosarium Virginis Mariae) and the Different ways of praying the Rosary.
A half-day Catechetical Seminar was organized by the FMA Sisters of INC at Auxilium Convent Bandel. The seminar was divided into three parts. The first session covered the tasks, sources, and challenges of catechesis in India. The second session focused on the Church and media in the contemporary world. The final session covered digital tools and methods for ministry. Fr. Kumudo Kuriakose Digal, SDB from Nitika Don Bosco, Kolkata, was the resource person for the seminar, and there were 52 participants. The participants were satisfied with the sessions but felt that time was not sufficient to delve into the practical part of the third session. A demo practice of the use of different tools to edit and enhance photos, record, and edit audio and video clips, etc. would have made the seminar more interesting, but that required more time. However, the participants were given notes with necessary tools to explore.