Malacca Johore Diocese Young People Day 2024

Dec 06, 2024

By Daryl Tan
On November 23, the Malacca Johore Diocese held its first-ever Diocesan-level Young People’s Day at MAJODI Centre.

The event brought together 680 enthusiastic participants, including youth, campus students, and young adults, representing the diocese’s four main language groups: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil, and Mandarin. The joyful gathering centred around this year’s World Youth Day theme: Those who hope in the Lord will run and not grow weary.

The one-day event began with Mass celebrated by Bishop Bernard Paul, who urged the young participants to embrace the role of pilgrims of hope rather than mere tourists. He encouraged them to journey with the Lord and recognise the potential and goodness they hold within. The Mass concluded with the commissioning of the Malacca Johore Diocese Young People’s Council (MJDYPC), a team of young leaders representing parishes across the diocese. These council members played a pivotal role in organising, planning, and executing the event, showcasing their dedication and tireless efforts.

After the commissioning, participants were divided into separate session areas, where they attended input sessions on the WYD theme, delivered in the four languages. These sessions built upon the homily from Mass, exploring the question, “How can I be a sign of hope to others?” After the input, participants engaged in group sharing using the ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ method, where they reflected on and discussed the question together.

The event continued with a booth exhibition showcasing various diocesan ministries, including the Family Life Ministry, Counselling Ministry, Caritas Malaysia, Vocation Ministry, Montfort Youth Centre, and the Creation Justice Ministry. These booths provided a valuable opportunity for the young people to learn more about the different ministries and explore ways to get involved. Meanwhile, praise and worship sessions in various languages took place in the main hall, and station games were held in other areas of MAJODI Centre.

All 680 participants reconvened in the main hall to celebrate the occasion with the MJDYPD concert, where they united in praise and worship as one vibrant Catholic community. The event concluded with an energetic action song, a rousing cheer of “MJDYPD!”, and a final blessing by Fr Alexuchelvam, co-head of the Malacca Johore Diocese Young People Network (MJDYPN).

Overall, the MJDYPD was a joyful and hopeful event, serving as a powerful sign to the broader Catholic community that young people are ready and eager to journey with the Lord, united as one family in the love of Jesus Christ.

Let us continue to pray for all the young people in this country, remembering that “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary.”

It was a very fruitful and uplifting event. I met so many bright and friendly peers who share the same faith. I felt very at home during the event and it was filled with good vibes all around.-- Jayne Carey Wong, campus student from the MMU Malacca Catholic Student Society (CSS)

Guiding the young participants at the MJDYPD was truly rewarding; witnessing their enthusiasm during workshops, exhibition booths and praise and worship sessions. The highlight for me was seeing their energy and joy come alive throughout the entire programme. --Ann Gratian, youth advisor from the Church of St Louis, Kluang