Malankara Catholic Youth Movement
Malankara Catholic Youth Movement is an association of youngsters of the globally spread Syro Malankara Catholic Church, which focuses on the development of the Youths, Church and the society. MCYM is working at the Unit, Regional and Diocesan level & Church level.
History
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. 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.."In 1971, under the intrepid directorship of Rev Fr Dominic Skariah with benediction of our beloved late Archbishop Benedict Gregorios Malankara Catholic Youth Movement 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 . 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.
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, Germany and Middle East 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.
Goal
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:Spiritual
Help the youth to deepen their Christian faith and to apply principles of faith in their daily lives, give training to acquire through a life of prayer, a spiritual outlook and a style of leadership proper to Christian ideals, concertize them in Christian principles to practice an exemplary life-style, enable them to lead an exemplary sacramental life by developing appreciation of the liturgical life and practices of the church, give practical training to take up leadership roles in catechesis, prayer-meetings, retreats and Bible conventions with a view to revitalize the parish community.Intellectual
Give encouragement and make facilities available for members to acquire scientific and technical knowledge and to learn appreciate and propagate the doctrines of the Church; conduct discussions, seminars, debates, corner meetings, exhibitions, excursions etc.; organize study circles, libraries etc. to make available educational and religious publications.Social
Prepare the Youth to analytically study the actual state of society, to react boldly against social evil and to work for the creation of a new society through positive action based on Christian ideals; Encourage new initiatives in the fields of labor, agricultural and industry by providing training in them; seek the solutions for social problems through organized activities; Collect and disseminate information on the welfare schemes of the government and of the Church and endeavor to make these available to the deserving, plan action programs for the progress of the backward communities and of groups subjected to injustice, neglect, and disabilities.Cultural
Set the state to defend and promote Christian and Indian Cultural traditions; create opportunities to appreciate Indian intellectual heritage, organize youth festivals, literary-cultural training camps and competitions, cultural gatherings etc. to discover and to develop the literary and athletic abilities of the Youth.Politics
The youth is entrusted with the responsibility of actively participating in politics that is the cradle of democracy. MCYM exhorts and encourages its members to engage in politics and lead the people to get involved in it.MCYM Anthem
Constitution of MCYM
Different stages of growth
MCYM works in parish units, in regional or ecclesiastical districts, in mission centres, in eparchies or archieparhies, in the Church as a whole.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.
Global Meet & Youth conventions
National Meet, Annual Senate, Directors’ Meet are organized in the month of May from 2004 onwards and now it is conducted as global meet.Along with the Re-union celebrations, the youth convention is being conducted in September and it commences with the Flaming Light Procession, and Flag Procession. The youth conventions are conducted under the leadership of the central body and each eparchial unit.
| Year | Global Meet, Annual Senate | Youth conventions |
| 1990 | - | Bathery |
| 1991 | - | Vennikulam |
| 1992 | - | Kollam |
| 1993 | - | - |
| 1994 | Santhinilayam, Tiruvalla. | Kattapana |
| 1995 | Santhinilayam, Tiruvalla. | Kattanam |
| 1996 | Malankara Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram | Nilambur |
| 1997 | Santhinilayam, Tiruvalla | Piravam |
| 1998 | Chennai | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 1999 | Tiruvalla | Sulthan Bathery |
| 2000 | Kanyakumari | Thiruvalla |
| 2001 | Thiruvananthapuram | Mylapra |
| 2002 | Santhinilayam, Tiruvalla | Chengaroor |
| 2003 | Pune | Bathery |
| 2004 | Dharsana Pastoral Centre, Peechi | Thiruvalla |
| 2005 | Santhinilayam, Tiruvalla | Mavelikara |
| 2006 | Prathiksha Youth Centre, Bathery. | Muvattupuzha |
| 2007 | Kanyakumari | Kodenchery |
| 2008 | Trivandrum | Ranni |
| 2009 | Thiruvananthapuram | Marthandam |
| 2010 | Mavelikara | Trivandrum |
| 2011 | Hyderabad | Trivandrum |
| 2012 | Bhopal | Pathanamthitta |
| 2013 | Trivandrum | Mavelikkara |
| 2014 | Marthandam | Bathery |
| 2015 | Mysore | Thiruvalla |
| 2016 | Bethery | Puttur |
| 2017 | Piravom | Adoor |
| 2018 | Mylapra | |
| 2019 | Mavelikara | Kottayam |
| 2020 | Marthandom |