"Young People Are the Present and Future of the Church": Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão

Kochi, Kerala, October 5, 2025 – Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI and the FABC and Archbishop of Goa, urged young Catholics to recognize themselves as “the present and the future of the Church” while presiding over the concluding Holy Mass of Witness at the National Youth Conference. 

The event, held at the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala celebrated the silver jubilee of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM). More than 2,500 young leaders and 200 priests gathered for the celebration, which marked the culmination of the five-day national youth event.

“You are the bearers of hope for the Church and the world,” Cardinal Ferrão told the youth, urging them to remain close to Jesus and the Church. Citing the example of Saint Carlo Acutis, he encouraged the young leaders to use their talents for proclaiming Christ.

He reminded them that faith must be lived with humility and expressed through action. “Never underestimate the power of prayer. Without prayer, leadership becomes meaningless,” he said. “Your gifts are entrusted not for pride but for the glory of God. You are not passive members of the Church, but missionary disciples.”

The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Ignatius D’Souza, Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Youth and Bishop of Bareilly; Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI; Fr. Chetan Machado, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Youth; Fr. John Barman, Associate Executive Secretary for Youth; Fr. Anoop Antony, OSJ, Kerala Region Youth Commission Secretary; and Rev. Fr. Maria Antony, National Council member of the Youth Commission, along with more than 200 priests.

Among the dignitaries present were Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya; Rev. Dr. Augustine Vallooran, VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre; and Rev. Sr. Shakhila, CTC, Mother General of the CTC Congregation.

By Supriya Varghese