NERYC: THE BEGINNINGS

With regard to youth, the post synod document (IIIB) has the following to say:

Pope Paul VI once said: "the Church loves young people just as old tree loves the springtime”. The youth are a living sign of springtime in our Church; they are precious part of our community and have an important part to play in the Church. Their pastoral care must be given the highest priority in the Archdiocese. The first educators of our young people are of course, the parents at home; the school teachers and the archdiocesan and parish teams are only their collaborators. Bearing in mind that the youth of today are to make their valid contribution to the Church and nation as God fearing and loyal citizens, diocesan, parish and school programmers should be drawn up in order to instill in them values characteristic of our Christian identity and which will help to create a healthy spiritual, mental and physical balance and a deep love for the Church and their motherland."

The Indian Catholic youth movement (ICYM-National Office, Delhi) is under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops Conferences of India (CBCI Established in 1994) "youth ministry “started in 1946 the CBCI Commission for youth was set in 1986.

The ICYM- National Office, Delhi animates and networks with all the 132 Latin dioceses in India, through a well structured system of Regional and Diocesan Youth Directors and their related committees, which meet regularly for training, formation, planning and execution of programmes at various levels. It is also the official body that delegates youth to attend the world youth day, Asian Youth Day and Taize programmes. It also organizes a triennial National Youth Convention a truly representative gathering of youth from all over India. At this convention, the theme and thrust for next three years are discussed. Enunciated and adopted for implementation.

The North Eastern Regional Youth Commission [NERYC] is the regional youth development wing of the Catholic Church, Northeast India. The task of NERYC is to act as the coordinating body of youth work among the 15 dioceses of the Northeast. Providing expertise, guidance, unity of purpose and cohesion. NERYC is a Church based organization but its target group, keeping in mind the plurality and diversity of the region, is not confined to any particular religious or social group. NERYC based its activities in the foundation of human and social values.

NERYC (North Eastern Regional Youth Commission) is the official youth organization of the Catholic Bishops Conference of North East India. It got a definitive form in 1994. NERYC co-ordinates the regional level youth activities of the diocese of the region. It works through the Diocesan Youth Directors (DYD) and the Diocesan Youth Lady Animators(DYLAs) who are directed to reach out to the youth in parishes.

In their attempt to organizes the regional youth, the regional Church leaders and the youth animators came together in Tura in 1981. It was at this meeting, the first seed of the present NERYC was sown.

At the gathering at Tura it did not take long for the animators to see and respond to the pressing issues of the youth. Understanding the magnitude of the chairperson of NERYC and Fr.C.L. Thomas SDB was the first secretary. Besides, the chairperson and the secretary, there were the diocesan youth directors, youth delegates from the two Salesian provinces and two representatives from side of the religious sisters of the region. Fr. V. A Cyriac was appointed Secretary of NERYC in the following year.

The year 1985 was declared international youth year. It was a worldwide acknowledgement of the power of the youth and the need to channel their energy towards making this planet a heaven on earth. The North East Youth being a vibrant group, they responded enthusiastically to this call.

Responding to the renewed enthusiasm and the felt need for a coordinating body at the diocesan, regional and national levels, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) at the general conference meeting held at Goa in April 1986, established the National Youth Commission with Bishop V. Abraham as the chairperson and Fr.Satyaseelan SVD as the secretary. Thereafter, efforts were made to organize diocesan and regional commission in the country. Persons involved in youth ministry across the Northeast had the imagination and courage to venture down the new roads to respond to the needs and aspirations of the young of this region in a commendable manner.

NERYC did well in its functions as a regional youth organization. However, extending its web of youth promotion activities and values as well as coordination of the youth programmes at the inter-diocesan level was still a concern. With this objective in view, Fr. Joel D’cunha, secretary to the CBCI commission called for a meeting of the diocesan youth directors of the North East to recognize the existing youth services set up into a more viable and efficient youth commission. The meeting was held on October 13, 1993 at the Archbishop’s House, Shillong. As a result of the discussions held at this meeting, North Eastern Catholic Youth Service officially became the North Eastern Regional Youth Commission (NERYC) with Fr.Mathew Vallankal SDB and Fr.Johnson Parackal SDB as its Director and Asst. Director respectively.

Since its inception, NERYC has been coordinating the various youth programmes in the fifteen dioceses of Northeastern Region. It also facilitates the participation of the regional youth animators in the national and International youth programmes. NERYC reaches out to the youth group to all segments through the help of the Diocesan Youth Commission that consists of Director, and Youth Leaders.

Guided by its vision,faithful to its mission, keeping its strategies in achieving its dreams NERYC has grown in leaps and bounds through the instrumentality of the different vibrant and capable directors, coordinators,youth leaders and collaborators. It has undertaken various projects as per the need of the region and demands of the time.

NERYC has collaborated with the National and international youth movements and youth forum. It has initiated many programmes to help and promote youth towards maturity and wholeness.

NERYC has initiated many developmental activities in the region. Leadership Training Programme, Animators Training, Teachers Training Programme, Training of Youth Counselors, Peace Building Programmes, Capacity Building and Life Skills Training and Job Placement Programmes, Faith Formation, Rural Women Empowerment Programme, Human Rights Eucation and Awareness Building Programme, Entrepreneurial Skill Training for Dropouts, Spiritual Quest, Holistic Health, Training Progarmme for SGHs, Awareness of Substance Abuse, Planning and Evaluation has always been part of its Success.

NERYC has encouraged young people to participate in national, Asian and International Programmes. Many youth have participated in the National Conventions, Asian Youth Day and World Youth Day. In order to help the young to experience God in prayer some youth have‘TeizeParis France.

NERYC has always encouraged young people to be part of life transforming programmes. Many youth have participated in World Youth Day, Asian Youth Day, National Convention, pilgrimages and Taize Prayer experience in Paris, France.

ANENUES was an Employment Facilitation Cell of NERYC to help the young people of Northeast, who want to make of their life a success.

Through Young Catholic Student/ Young Students Movements(YCS/YSM) NERYC has been able to reach out to students all over North East. Students have benefitted much through the motivational, orientation, and career guidance programmes.

PEACE @ SCHOOL

Peace @ school is an effort of NERYC to reach out to as many schools possible to create a platform for students to think, analyze and discuss on issues on peace and to make them peace advocates of the society.