Indian Catholic Youth Movement

The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) is the largest Premier Catholic youth movement in India. It is spread across 686 districts in India. The ICYM functions through 14 Regions & 132 Dioceses. It is an organisation for the Catholic youth from the Latin rite of the Christian community across India.[1] The patron saint of Indian Catholic Youth Movement is St. Gonsalo Garcia.

Indian Catholic Youth Movement
AbbreviationICYM
MottoTo Lead, To Serve, To Shine
Formation1985
PurposeYouth development programme in India
HeadquartersNew Delhi
Parent organisation
Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
Website[http://www.icym.net/]

History

The dreams and aspirations of thousands of youth, animators, directors and bishops turned into a reality when Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) had approved ICYM as a National Movement for the youth on 14 September 1999.

In 2017, following the bifurcation of the three rites in India (Latin, Syro-malabar, Syro-malankara) the ICYM was shifted and adopted by the CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India), as the National Youth Movement of the Latin Catholic Youth in India. It now stands as the official youth movement of the National Youth Commission of CCBI.

Activities

Integral Development of Youth through Formation, Fellowship and Action being the main objectives of youth ministry, ICYM caters to varied needs of the holistic development of its young members.

ICYM also coordinates National Delegations to World Youth Day, Asian Youth Day, World Youth Parliament and pilgrimages to Taize. It is collaborated with YCS/YSM and international youth body FIMCAP. It is also tied up with an international social network called UCANEWS which is the Catholic News Network in Asia. With its motto - "To Lead, To Serve, to Shine" there is a lot to be done and a whole community to be won.

ICYM is the official state and regional organisation under the auspices of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). It consists of youngsters between the age group of 18– 30 years who subscribe to Catholic values and principles, but beneficiaries include the youth of other religions.

Today, ICYM has a membership strength of 104,685 young people making it one of the influential organisations in the nation.

Patron Saint

The patron of ICYM is St. Gonsalo Garcia, a Portuguese Indian who was born in the western coastal town of Vasai and died as a martyr in Japan and is venerated as a saint, one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan so venerated. Garcia was beatified in 1627 by Pope Urban VIII and canonised as a saint by Pope Pius XI on 8 June 1862.

    References
    1. "Set aside political differences: KCYM". The Hindu. 17 January 2012.
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