Sr. Pherdalin Thongni FMA, Diocesan Youth Lady Animator (DYLA) of Nongstoin diocese led a representive of young people and attended the IV National Youth Conference at the Pastoral Centre, Nadiad Ahmedabad Gujarat from 26 April – 1 May 2022. This national event is the first face to face meeting since the time of the pandemic and saw over 450 youth leaders from around the country. The North East Region was represented by 56 delegates from Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The delegation was led by Fr. John Barman MSFS and Youth Directors from different dioceses of the region.

The five-day event had nine group sessions in which each participant shared his or her experience, views and opinions on the theme ‘Youth for the Synodal Church’. There were also workshops based on topics concerning the youth of today.

Youth from the 14 regions of the country presented their cultures through the form of music, art and dance. The Northeast delegation presented a fusion dance show consisting of the cultures of six states from the region. The colourful cultural show received appreciation from all the delegates.

Two youth from the region, Napoleon Rongmei of Imphal diocese, Manipur and Shimtidaris Marbaniang from Nongstoin diocese, Meghalaya also received the National Youth Awards for their outstanding contribution towards the youth ministry in the region. Whereas, Antony Laremdika, Aizwal diocese, Mizoram was elected for the post of joint secretary of ICYM.

The youth of the region in compliance with the Regional Chairman for Youth Commission accepted to host the next National Youth Conference in 2023.

On the last day after lunch each region went for some sightseeing. The Northeast team visited the Unity Statue the world’s tallest statue, with a height of 182 metres (597 feet), located in the state of Gujarat, India dedicated to Vallabhbhai Patel.

After an enriching experience Sr. Pherdalin and the group returned home armed with new energies to walk the path of synodality.