Discerning God’s Call: Deanery-Level Vocation Camps Inspire Youth in the Diocese of Belgaum

Belgaum, Karnataka, 3 May, 2025 - April 2025 marked a spiritually enriching chapter in the Diocese of Belgaum as the Commission for Vocation Promotion, under the dynamic leadership of Fr. Freddy A. Raj, rector of St. Michael’s Seminary, Belgaum, hosted a series of deanery-level vocation camps. Organised across three key deaneries—Khanapur, Belgaum, and Hubballi-Dharwad—the initiative aimed to nurture the seeds of priestly and religious vocations among young boys and girls.

The camps drew enthusiastic participation and were filled with moments of joyful interaction, reflective prayer, and personal testimony. Each camp, while unique in setting and speakers, shared a common mission: to help the youth discern God’s call with courage and clarity.

Khanapur Deanery – April 6, 2025

Held at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya School Hall in Khanapur, the first of the camps set a deeply spiritual tone. Fr. Nelson Pinto and Fr. Prashanth Pinto delivered powerful messages centred on Christ’s transformative love and the meaning of vocation. Br. Rakesh inspired the youth by drawing parallels between biblical vocation stories and modern-day discipleship. Personal testimonies from Br. Jeevan and Br. Arogyappa provided an honest and moving glimpse into their own journeys, encouraging participants to reflect more deeply on their call. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist served as the spiritual heart of the day, grounding all activities in prayer.

Hubballi Deanery – April 8, 2025

At St. Joseph’s Church, Keshwapur, the camp for the Hubballi-Dharwad Deanery offered a vibrant and joy-filled atmosphere. Bro. Andrew C. Kuri (II Year Theology) reported on the event, highlighting dynamic sessions led by Fr. Edward Santhosh and Bro. Sohan D’Souza. Their talks on “God’s Love” and the call to vocation resonated with participants. Interactive segments such as group games, storytelling, prayer services, and music helped create an environment where children could open up and share freely. Heart-to-heart conversations with seminarians brought authenticity and warmth, leaving the youth inspired and spiritually uplifted.

Belgaum Deanery – April 10, 2025

The final camp, hosted in the hall of St. Anthony’s School, Belgaum, began with an insightful address by Fr. Freddy A. Raj. He spoke of the joy found in a life dedicated to God. Fr. Edward Santhosh once again enriched the gathering with a reflection on love through the Cross. Br. Rakesh connected scripture to contemporary examples of vocation, while Br. Jeevan and Sr. Preethi moved the audience with their deeply personal vocation stories. The camp also included gender-specific sessions to explore the unique roles of men and women in religious life, ensuring meaningful engagement for all attendees.

A United Vision, A Shared Journey

Across all three deaneries, the camps left a profound impact. The dedicated efforts of Brothers Andrew, Sohan, Rakesh, Jeevan, and Arogyappa were instrumental in creating a space where faith could flourish and vocation could be explored. With a blend of prayer, personal sharing, and community building, the camps offered the youth of the diocese a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper openness to God’s call.

These grace-filled gatherings exemplified the Diocese of Belgaum’s commitment to nurturing future religious and spiritual leaders—one heart, one soul at a time.

By Media team

Belgaum diocese