MARGHERITA (Assam), May 15: The three-day Miao Diocesan Youth Convention concluded with a mass prayer for world peace at the Divine Retreat Centre here on 12 May.
Over 600 youths from the eight districts of eastern Arunachal took part in the event.
Bishop George of the Miao diocese in his inaugural address urged the youths to remain alert against divisive forces in the country and the world over. He urged them to make the world a better place to live in and work for peace, love, and mutual respect.
He also advised the youths to keep away from drugs and alcohol.
Chowkham (Namsai) Police Station OC Benjamin Dumgan Singpho, who was attacked for taking on drug peddlers two years ago, exhorted the youths to always stand against unwanted activities in the society.
“It is never easy to stand for the truth and what is right. But you must remain positive and fight against all kinds of addiction,” he said.
Fr Jose Murickan, director of New Delhi-based National Institute of Social Communications, Research & Training, advised the youths to be cautious about being lost in the virtual world.
“Social media is a most effective modern means of communication to learn something and share ideas; but there have been many tragic examples of how youths have been trapped in this web,” he said.
Mungtang Mossang, the diocesan president of the Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association (APCA), Likro Mossang, the women wing president of the APCA, Fr Johnson, the director of the Divine Retreat Centre, Frs Sebastian and Yesudas, and several other resource persons addressed the youths.
Colourful traditional dances performed by the youths and a peace rally were the other highlights of the three-day event.
