Kerala Catholic Youth Movement
Kerala Catholic Youth Movement is a state federation of youth movements working under the 31 dioceses (dioceses of all the three rites are included-Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara) of Kerala. It works for the integral development of the individual according to the vision of Christ and for the total liberation of the society at large. The target group of the movement includes youngsters between the age fifteen and thirty five. Under the patronage of St. Thomas More K.C.Y.M. tries to form youth missionaries who are deep in faith and morality, committed to the Church and society and equipped in spirit, heart and intellect.
In the Archdiocese of Verapoly, K.C.Y.M. is perhaps the most prominent youth movement. It has a glorious history of more than three decades in the Archdiocese and has got a lot of achievements to its credit.
1. Origin and Growth
In 1972, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India (C.B.C.I) had taken a very progressive step to organize the youth by instituting a special commission for youth in the C.B.C.I. This is to be considered as a milestone in the history of youth apostolate in India. Msgr. J. Powathil, then auxiliary Bishop of Changanachery and Msgr. Eric Benjamin, Bishop of Darjeeling were its members. In 1973 immediately after the institution of the C.B.C.I Youth Commission, the K.C.B.C. appointed a Youth Committee consisting of three Bishops and a Regional Chaplain.
As soon as the K.C.B.C. Youth Committee was instituted, Bishop Powathil, the chairman of the committee convened a meeting of the Catholic youth leaders of Kerala at Thevara (Cochin) on 16th of May 1973. The seminar contemplated on the idea of a new youth movement common to all the dioceses of Kerala.
Further the K.C.B.C. Youth Committee made a request to all the Bishops of Kerala to appoint a youth chaplain each in their respective dioceses. The response was favourable. Thereafter the committee held consultation as well as training sessions for the youth animators of all the dioceses of Kerala from 25 December 1973 to 3 January 1974 at Trichur. These sessions made a deep study on the relevance of the Catholic youth movements of Kerala and the problems involved. They expressed their deep appreciation for the pious associations and their services, particularly the CML (Cherupushpa Mission League). But they were unanimous on the point that the CML or any such pious association could hardly serve the purpose. They said, “Pious associations have their own importance and relevance. But the present need is to have a powerful state level organization with socio-cultural and religious objectives embracing the youth of all the three Rites of Kerala.”
The dioceses were requested to liven up their respective movements. Most of the dioceses strengthened their movements either by re-organizing the existing groups or by starting a new one. The response of the Archdiocese of Verapoly was also very much favourable in this regard. As part of launching an Archdiocesan youth group, an ad-hoc committee was formed in the Archdiocese of Verapoly in March 1974 with Rev. Fr. Firmus Kachappilly as the director and Mr. Antony Ambatt as the convenor. Later, on 22nd September, 1974, with the blessings of the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Kelanthara, the movement was officially constituted. Mr. Antony Ambatt and Mr. K.G. Mathai were elected respectively as the first president and general secretary of the Movement.
In 1976, with a view to finding out and encouraging the talented youngsters and nourishing their potential qualities for leadership K.C.B.C. youth commission convened a grand youth festival at Trichur. The success of the youth festival gave a boost to the Bishops and they thought of forming a federation of all youth movements which were already active under different dioceses. Thus a committee was formed to prepare a constitution for the same. In December 1978, in a convention of youth representatives held at Mannanam, the new federation “The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement” was formally inaugurated. The first leaders of the federation were also elected on that occasion.
2. Structure
K.C.Y.M. is a youth movement which starts from family units and extends to international level. The youth of the parish join together to form the smallest unit of K.C.Y.M.. Each parish unit is associated with the diocesan unit. The diocesan units of all 29 catholic dioceses Kerala together constitute the state unit. The state unit is in association with the national unit I.C.Y.M. which is a part of MIJARC (International movement of Catholic agricultural rural youth).
3. Philosophy
The aim of K.C.Y.M. is “the integral development of the individual in accordance with the vision of Christ and total liberation of the society.” This is in fact nothing, but the realisation of the Kingdom of God. As we understand from the Bible, the purpose of existence of the Church is the Kingdom-realisation. K.C.Y.M. as a unit of the Church is, therefore, part taking in the mission of the Church.
Speaking about the Kingdom of God, the Second Vatican council remarks: “(It) is a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide, and whose blessedness will answer and surpass all the longing for peace which spring up in the human heart.” In the words of Pope John Paul II, it would be a just and peaceful world where people of God lead a life based on the eternal values such as love, justice, freedom and solidarity. In other words, it will be a society in which liberation from all forms of oppression and exploitation will be a permanent feature; it will be a society in which men and women are enabled to live in fraternal community and communion with God; and it will be society in which justice, peace and true love will always prevail. So the youth have a decisive role to play in the process of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.
The flag and emblem of K.C.Y.M. reflect the values and principles they stand for. The flag is tri-colour; red at the top, white in the middle and yellow at the bottom. At the centre of the white strip, we see the emblem of K.C.Y.M. in red colour. The red colour in the flag calls them to be courageous as martyrs to stand for faith, justice and truth. The white colour signifies innocence and sanctity where as the yellow points to the value of suffering and faith. The presence of white and yellow strips in the flag indicates the Papal flag and the close association of the Movement with the entire Catholic Church.
The emblem contains the following:
a. An open Bible in the hands of a boy and a girl which signifies the role of evangelisation.
b. A flame signifying the prophetic role of youth.
c. A circle symbolising the universe.
The message of the emblem may be put like this: We, the members of K.C.Y.M. are resolved to work for the establishment of the Kingdom of God by dispelling the darkness of evil by the light of the Gospel.
4. Statistics in the Archdiocese
As mentioned before, K.C.Y.M. is a prominent youth movement in the Archdiocese. Of the 83 parishes (61 parishes and 22 quasi-parishes) in the Archdiocese of Verapoly, K.C.Y.M. has, at present, its units in 40 parishes. Each unit has an average strength of 30 members which include both male and female.
5. Training Package
K.C.Y.M. in the archdiocese of Verapoly does not have a training package of its own. Neither does it have a training centre. But it makes use of the training programmes provided by the state committee, I.C.Y.M. and MIJARC. Some of the training packages are the following:
a. SALT –I and SALT-II (State Advanced Leadership Training)
b. Anima: This is a training programme for the animators conducted every year.
c. YILT (Youth Intensive Leadership Training): This is a year-long training programme conducted by the state K.C.Y.M..
d. Advanced leadership training programmes conducted by I.C.Y.M.
e. TOT( Training of trainers) which is conducted by I.C.Y.M.
f. CAT (Chaplains and Animators Training). It is conducted by I.C.Y.M..
g. SAYA youth training programme (I.C.Y.M.)
h. Intensive Bible study course(I.C.Y.M.)
i. International Women Leadership Training Programme(MIJARC)
6. Achievements and Strengths
Formation of an organised youth with a great deal of ecclesial and social consciousness may be deemed as one of the greatest achievements of the Movement. In the history of more than three decades, it has made laudable contributions in the field of education, culture, arts, sports, and social development. The growth of the community and society has always been a focal point of their actions.
There are innumerable incidents which can be pointed out as examples that reflect the social commitment of the Movement. K.C.Y.M. has always made its stand clear in the social issues like the problems of fishermen folk, spread of drugs and alcohol, school politics, shortage of drinking water, pollution of the river Periyar, increase in boat/bus fare and increase in postal/electricity charges. It has been in the forefront to fight for the needs of the people, for e.g., for constructing Vypeen- Ernakulam Bridge and for implementing special recruitment as suggested by Justice Narendran Commission.
With regard to the development of innate talents of the youth, K.C.Y.M. has played an immense role in the last three decades. Talent eve, Chris melody, Musical evenings, Youth festivals, Journalistic training camps, camps for training in Drama and Sahityapatana shibiram are some of the examples of their contribution. They also organise sports festivals and indoor games competitions.
K.C.Y.M. has ever encouraged the educational development of students. Merit awards are distributed every year to those who excel in the academic performance. It also conducts a five-day training programme called Mikavu for all those who appear for S.S.L.C. examinations.
It is to be acknowledged with gratitude that many of the members of K.C.Y.M. have come out with flying colours in the course of time. Many state and national leaders of various groups and movements have evolved out of it. Some of them have reached to some political chairs. Many famous literary figures, popular singers and great artists have also bloomed through this movement. Sippy Pallippuram, Benny P. Nayarambalam, and Prof. Premus Perincherry (famous writers), Ignatius Gonzalvas and K.G. Mathai (journalists), Gagul Joseph and Johnson Mangazha (musicians), Vince Perincherry (artist), Ludy Luiz and Adv. Laly Vincent (politicians) and Anson (footballer) are some of them.