Malankara Catholic Youth Movement

[2][4] The Catholic Youth Movement of Kerala dates back to the second half of the 1960s. Although there were some youth organisations in the parish level at different parts of Kerala, the spread of the organization of the youth movements in the diocesan took place rather late. Two reasons seem to be of prime importance for the foundation of the youth organizations in the late 1960s. First of all, in the church there was a great enthusiasm both in the Kerala region and National level discussions and study programs of the Second Vatican Council. From different topics the role of laity in the life of Church has become one of the important points that attracted the laity all over India. Secondly, in Kerala the Christian communities along with other social and religious organizations started fighting against the second communist regime in 1967.[5] In particular the fight was against the educational policy of the Government. The former has already given the ideological basis for the organization of the laity at various levels and the latter has given an immediate reason to join with the Church in its for justice.The visionary desire of Zacharias Mar Athanasios, the first organized youth organization in the Kerala Catholic Church was formed. It is in this background that the youth gathering at Vennikulam, on 17 November 1967 under Presidency of Msgr Mathew Nedungad the then Vicar General of Thiruvalla Diocese decided to start a youth organization. Under the able leadership of Mr Varghese Karippayil an adhoc committee was formed and later on 28 February 1968 it was formally launched. Fr Chacko Elavumparampil was appointed as its first director. .To the great enthusiasm of the youth, the dean of the oriental congregation Cardinal Feuston Berg inaugurated the youth organization in which Zacharias Mar Athanasios presided .It was inaugurated at St.John's Cathedral, Thiruvalla on 28th February 1968. In the beginning the organization was known as Kerala Katholikka Yuvajana Sanghadana or Kearala Catholic Youth Organization(KCYO)..

"In 1971, under the intrepid directorship of Rev Fr Dominic Skariah with benediction of our beloved late Archbishop Benedict Gregorios Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) the official youth wing of Malankara Catholic Church started in Thiruvananthapuram Diocese Thiruvananthapuram Diocese, during Malankara Christian Convention held at St. Peter's Church, Pathanamthitta. The errand behind the formation of this movement was to develop youth in spirituality and faith in the context of catholic teachings and beliefs, thereby ensures a strong foundation to church. With the expectation keeping in tone, movement first flourished in middle part of Kerala.

Meanwhile, the youth movement in Thiruvalla Diocese was profoundly developed and our Bishops foresight to integrate the whole Malankara youth under one roof paved the way for renaming this movement as MCYM in Thiruvalla Diocese. Establishment of Bathery Diocese in 1978 and Marthandom Diocese in 1996 rejuvenate MCYM activities in the respective region.

The youth movement in Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvalla and Bathery were conducted independently. At the same time, it was forced to be united in the Kerala level because of the federal administrative style of Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) . It was the federation of the youth movements of three independent churches. Hence for the election and for any decisions in the regional level it was important for the MCYM's of different Diocese to work together. But in the church level it became a reality only with the formation of a youth commission under Cyril Baselios, the then Bishop of Bathery Diocese in 1989. Subsequently, the youth movement activities scattered in different diocese was brought together in 1990 leading to the formation of the MCYM Central Secretariat.[6]

The MCYM in different dioceses had its own constitution, flag, anthem, motto patron saint and style of function. In view of giving uniformity, the central secretariat succeeded to agree on a common constitution . It was promulgated in 1992 September 20. Central Secretariat initiate several steps within short span to reclaim the youth activities to reach up to its optimum and brought various mission regions scattered all over India, N America,[7] Germany and Middle East (Kuwait,[8] Dubai,[9] Sharjah,[10] Qatar,[11] Bahrain[12]) together and also given equivalent status to Diocese under its new constitution and this bestowed a new boost to MCYM activities in these regions. Now MCYM Central Secretariat is all set to amend the constitution to include various demands and suggestion put forward by Dioceses and Extra Territorial Regions.

According to the By-laws of the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement, its mission is to continue the plan of salvation definitively begun by GOD the Father in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal of this organization is to make this salvation historical plan available to humanity through the Malankara Catholic Church. Evangelization is the means to realize this. This organization aims at the total liberation of society and the integral development of Youth. For the realization of this goal, the by-laws go on to specify the general plan of action:[13]

[14]

[2][15]

MCYM works in parish units, in regional or ecclesiastical districts, in mission centres, in eparchies or archieparhies, in the Church as a whole (unit/regional/ecclesiastical district/mission centres/diocese/archdiocese/church levels).

The following is a brief description of the permanent action-plan of the central body, developed during the past fifteen years. It organizes six major activities in a year.

The Malankara Catholic Youth Movement of North America is the youth wing of Malankara Catholics in North America, specifically the Exarch of United States of America and the faithful in Canada. The Youth Movement has grew with the help of many including all the bishops, priests, and youth that have sacrificed for the sake of our youth.

• MCYM Central secretariat
• Syro-Malankara