What Is ICYM

"The Indian Catholic Youth Movement" (ICYM) is a parochial youth movement under the aegis of the CCBI Commission for Youth, focused at animating a holistic growth of all the youth under the Latin rite parishes in India. It works as the National Youth Animating Organization that enables young people be protagonists to build a “Synodal” or co-responsible church and a better society.(Cfr. Synod on Youth 2018) It was approved by the Standing Committee of CBCI (the then Bishops Conference of India) on Sept. 14, 1999 and inaugurated on Feb. 6, 2000. The beneficiaries are even the youth of different religions.

Birth of Indian Catholic Youth Movement :

• The year 1999 was historical as CBCI Standing Committee approved the Memorandum and Statutes of the ‘Indian Catholic Youth Movement’ (ICYM) on September 14 (Feast of the Triumph of the Cross), as the National Youth Organization of the Episcopal Conference of India.
• CBCI Commission for Youth initiated the preparation of the Yesu Krist Jayanti Stamp in collaboration with the Government of India and the Diocese of Vasai.
• In the year 2000 ICYM was founded on 6th February (Feast of Gonsalo Garcia; ICYM patron Saint) by democratically electing its first National Council and the National Executive Committee (NEXCO) at St Pius College, Mumbai.
• In 2001 India was selected to host Asian youth day.
• In 2002 August Fr. Alwyn M.J. D’Souza from the Diocese of Mangalore, Karnataka Region took over as the Executive Secretary of CBCI Youth Commission and the second National Youth Director of ICYM.
• In 2003 ICYM hosted the AYD (III) in Bangalore in which 19 countries participated.
• In 2006 Most Rev. Leo Cornelio, SVD, Archbishop of Bhopal was elected as the Chairman of CBCI Commission for Youth and “Apna Yuva Spandan” the National youth Magazine was registered with the Government of India after a year-long follow up.
• In the year 2007 CBCI Standing Committee approved the proposal to register ICYM with the government as a Registered Body in the name of ‘Youth Activ8 Foundation’ under the Societies Registration Act of XXI‚ 1860 and the youth movement was to become its subsidiary unit.

VISION

 We the Latin Catholic Youth of India are in the midst of a changing world. At this juncture, with hope and courage, we unite to remove all obstacles that come in our way to achieving a renewed society in faith and love. With our firm catholic faith, we give ourselves wholeheartedly for the formation of a better India and a world.

 The scope and the key areas of the work of ICYM is the promotion and encouragement of Catholic youth in Catholic Faith and Vocation, their personal commitment to Catholic values, and inspired by it, enable the youth to build a society transformed in God. In particular, the ICYM focuses on the holistic growth of the Catholic youth and on their ensuing commitment towards the Church and the larger society in India.

MISSION

“We the Latin Catholic Youth Representatives of India‚ motivated by the Gospel values‚ commit ourselves to empower youth to learn‚ lead and serve each other and the society in faith‚ hope and love. It is our firm conviction that our mission is to lead all the Youth to empowerment‚ employment‚ economic welfare‚ personal and societal wholeness and to preserve the national integrity through dialogue and respect for all religions irrespective of caste and creed.