MCYMC holds annual meeting in Bundu Tuhan

BUNDU TUHAN – The Malaysia Catholic Youth Ministers’ Committee (MCYMC) held their annual meeting on 26-29 Sept 2016 at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre.

The meeting is a gathering of full-time youth ministers serving in the Malaysian arch/dioceses. This year all nine arch/dioceses, represented by 30  delegates, were present at the meeting.

Prior to this meeting, the group met  with the Catholic campus leaders on Sept  in Pace Bene

The Bundu Tuhan meeting started with a recollection  facilitated by Fr Joshua Liew.  He led the participants to reflect on their past relationships and events that led them to  full-time ministerial work. The session was further strengthened with adoration and sharing. The recollection ended with  Mass presided by Archbishop John Wong,  attended also by St Pius X youth and parishioners.

For the next two days, each diocese shared on the progress of its youth ministry as well as its future direction. They  discussed pressing issues confronting the youth and needs of the Youth Commission in Malaysia. These issues and needs were presented to Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur on the final day, to be brought up at the next Bishops Conference.

These issues included proselytising, youth migration, lack of proper documentation leading to fear of being involved in minstry, and lack of patriotic zeal. Meanwhile, MCYMC suggested that each youth

The MCYMC encouraged the youth ministers to undergo appropriate formation, especially skills-building, in order to effectively face these issues.

At the meeting, the  MCYMC presented its improved census system for migrating students/workers/youths by making  its  forms available online on their website at  beliakl.catholicyouth.my. Those who are migrating will be directly connected to the arch/diocesan Youth Ministry Office in the destination country. The committee called on all migrating parishioners in Malaysia, regardless of age, to fill in the form and make full use of this support.

The committee agreed that the Malaysian Catholic Campus Student Day (MCCSD) will be held in Penang in June 2017;  the translation of reading materials to be headed by Melaka-Johor.  There will also be a Malaysian contingent to Asian Youth Day 2017 in Indonesia and World Youth Day 2019 in Panama.

It was also agreed that Kuching Archdiocese will be the coordinating office for 2017 cooperation and building up of youth ministry offices in Malaysia while the host for 2017 MYCMC will be Sibu Diocese.  – Imelda Soidi, KKAVPT