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About Jesus Youth
Jesus Youth is an international Catholic youth movement with a Charismatic spirituality. It had its
beginnings in Kerala (India), but is now active in many different countries throughout the world. Jesus
Youth is an initiative of young people themselves, who, filled with the Holy Spirit try to reach out
to other young people. The strength of the movement is its special focus on a life centred on Lord Jesus
Christ; beginning with an experience of God, nourished by prayer, the Word of God, the sacraments and
fellowship, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Though not an actual community, Jesus
Youth is a network of small but vibrant groups of young people. In their own life situations, they strive
to give time to the Lord, responding to the challenges of today's world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
To know more about the Jesus Youth Movement, visit our global website www.jesusyouth.org.
Jesus Youth Mumbai
Jesus Youth Mumbai had its beginnings in the early 1990s, when the young people from Kerala having
a strong spiritual formation in Jesus Youth there migrated to here in search of jobs and for higher
education. The initial leaders of the movement include Mrs. Soney Noble, Mr. Mathew Joseph, Mr. Raju
K. David, Mr. John Wilfred and so on. Jesus Youth had its role in giving a positive direction in the
life of many youth over these years. There have always been countless young people whose faith and characted
got confirmed and strengthened through the movement, by the abundant grace of God through Jesus Christ
and by the power of the Holy Spirit. We reached out to the youth through retreats, formation programmes,
diocesan and parish level outreaches, prayer groups, cell groups etc.
There has also been certain testing times too in Jesus Youth Mumbai. One of them being that a certain
group of leaders with strong Pentecostal Church orientation left the movement and abandoned the Catholic
faith. It was during this time that many a people looked at Jesus Youth Mumbai with suspicion and doubt,
having a wong impression that Jesus Youth as such was having a Pentecostal orientation, whereas it was
a case with certain leaders only at a personal level. This confusion lasted a little while, but the
authorities and the faithful who kept a close watch on the movement realized the fact soon, thanks to
the patient and persistent efforts of the leaders, Directors and the Animators.
Jesus Youth Mumbai is blessed with the support that it enjoys with the dioceses in Mumbai. We received
patronage and support from the Kalyan Diocese right from its inception. Even in our toughest days, our
Bishops, especially His Excellency Mar Thomas Elavanal, and many of our priests in the Diocese
extended their pastoral care, love and support. Jesus Youth Mumbai have always been involved in sending
several youths from the Vasai Diocese for Cultural Exchange programme that is conducted every year in
India, giving them the exposure to the Jesus Youth lifestyle. Some of our members keep visiting these
youths for follow-ups. The Bishop of Vasai His Excellency Thomas Dabre has always been supportive
to us. We had always dreamt to work closely with the Archdiocese of Bombay. We started associating with
the Diocese from the year 2007, when the Bishop His Excellency Agnello Gracius invited us along
with several other youth movements to jointly think together towards reaching out to the Campuses in
Mumbai. This was followed by our interactions with His Grace Cardinal Oswald Gracius and His Excellency
Bosco Penha, where we received their whole-hearted blessings for our initiative CAMPUS MEET.
Jesus Youth does not promote an exclusive commitment to itself, but encourage its members to be
actively involved in other youth groups as well, such as the parish and diocesan youth movements
with a strong witnessing lifestyle that draws others to Jesus Christ. i.e. To be a leaven that changes
the whole flour.
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