18th Parish Youth Convention Held at Rombagre Village

The 18^th Parish Youth Convention of Holy Cross Church, Rongkhon, was successfully held at Rombagre village, the farthest village of the parish, from the afternoon of 12 December to the afternoon of 15 December 2025. The annual gathering brought together young people of the parish in a spirit of faith, renewal, and commitment.

The convention was organised around the inspiring theme, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Around 100 youngsters registered at the beginning of the convention, while participation increased significantly on Sunday, with nearly 120 youths actively taking part in the programme.

The Annual Youth Convention 2025 was inaugurated on the first day by Shri Bernard Rimpu, Hon’ble MDC of Tura, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. His presence and words of encouragement motivated the young participants to remain rooted in faith and actively contribute to society. The main day of the convention was honoured by the presence of Rev. Fr. Jimberth K. Marak, Parish Priest of Jengjal Parish, as the Chief Guest.

Over the three days, the youths were provided with ample opportunities for spiritual and personal renewal through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and enriching input sessions. Various resource persons, including Rev. Fr. Antony Sangma, Rev. Fr. Martin Marak, Rev. Fr. Justin (Youth Director), Rev. Fr. Jimberth K. Marak, along with two lay resource persons, guided the youngsters through sessions focusing on faith, leadership, and responsible Christian living.

An important highlight of the convention was the formulation of concrete action plans by the youths. One of the major resolutions taken was that youngsters would take responsibility for teaching Sunday School in every village of the parish. Holy Cross Parish, Rongkhon, comprises 40 villages under five circles. As a first step towards this initiative, the parish plans to organise a Sunday School Teachers’ Training Programme in the month of January. About 120 youngsters have been identified and selected to participate in this training.

The youths also resolved to organise a Youth Pilgrimage to Vailankanni and St. Thomas Mount in the coming year, fostering deeper faith and unity among the young members of the parish.

During the convention, the youngsters presented the Annual Youth Report and engaged in discussions to prepare both parish-level and diocesan-level annual plans and programmes.