Natasha Almeida
MUMBAI, MARCH 16, 2010: Approximately four hundred and fifty youngsters flocked to the Shrine of Don Bosco, Matunga on the night of March 13, 2010, and their sole purpose was ‘To see Jesus’. Till the early hours of the next day these youngsters had a colloquy with Jesus by way of the DBYS Night Vigil 2010.
Fr. Brian Moras sdb, Coordinator of the night vigil along with his lively volunteers, most of them Youth Paschers, animated the vigil in keeping with the Strenna of the Congregation, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’. The program began with the customary registrations. As the crowd was trickling in the shrine the Vigil Lights In Praise Foundation an eighteen member spiritual musical group set the tone to the prayerful evening by leading the participants into Praise and Worship.
The early hours of the night vigil saw an interactive, spirited, & creative session on the theme ‘Quest for Jesus’, wherein the participants were asked to fill in a very personal questionnaire on meeting Jesus face to face. As the session progressed it was the creativity of one of the volunteers who beautifully and literally put a face to the questions on Jesus. Jesus is amongst us, he could be any one of us – we are invited to recognize him in the mundane.
The next segment was a talk show ‘Jesus 24 x 7’, which touched on the questions that today’s youth would like to ask Jesus. During the weeks of preparation for the vigil a group of volunteers documented the various questions of youngsters in a visual road show format. This video led to the participants of the night asking questions to the panel which included a mix of a priest, a parishioner, a professional, and a youth. This segment portrayed that the youth, inspite of taking the risks and doing it all still haven’t found what they are looking for. The session led to the genuine realization that Jesus is the answer to all our questions.
After a refreshing coffee break it was time to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Fr. Wilfred D’Souza sdb, very candidly threw light on the healing love of Jesus and encouraged the youngsters to experience the loving embrace of the father through confession.
