What’s happening at the Family and Youth Conference?

The Family and Youth Conference Committee takes a look at the holistic need of its participants and caters to their needs to provide a spiritually based event

Cultural

Opening day begins with a beautiful procession of the lay and clergy leaders. The traditional Indian drums, chenda melam, will be heard throughout the conference halls. Very Rev. K, Mathai CorEpiscopa will be coordinating the procession.

Participants will perform cultural dances, perform dramatic plays and sing songs. Entertainment Night Coordinator, Ms. Ponnu Varghese, is organizing the evening cultural event, which will take place on Wednesday evening. She is contacting all the parishes that have registered and creating the program list to be published a week for the conference.

Exercise

The conference schedule also includes Sports and Games, picnic style, for all to take break and enjoy. Each morning, an optional walking session will be provided for those that want to enjoy the morning fresh air and beauty of the University of Delaware’s campus.

Service

One of the purposes of the Conference is to promote charity work. This year, we will continue with building the hygiene kits project through the Church World Service. The kits are distributed to people in nations struck by disaster. Last year’s kits were sent to Haiti to assist with the need. The Church World Service is requesting the more kits to those in need. A kit includes towel, toothbrush, soap, nail clipper, hair comb. Last year, about 250 kits were made. This year, the Committee hopes to increase the number of kits made to help more individuals. Coordinators, Mr. Brian Thumpayil and Mr. George Kurivalla say, “This activity which was for the MGCOSM youth last year will be opened to all the individuals to participate in. It will give us a chance to give back to our communities.”

Networking

The Family and Youth Conference provides its participants with opportunities to meet and network with other Orthodox Christians and families throughout the Diocese. Through the interactive group sessions and breaks throughout the day, its allows one to make new friends and reconnect with old ones.

Spiritual

This year, Curriculum Coordinator, Ms. Linu Joseph, a teacher, is organizing all the sessions and ensuring that they all focus on conference theme. Ms. Joseph, is working closely with the clergy and members of the team, Rev. Dn. Sujit Thomas, Rev. Dn. Abraham (Vijay) Thomas, Ms. Anita John, Ms. Sherin John, Mr. George Kurivalla, Ms. Binu Pappen and Mr. Sunil Kurian.

The sessions include all the age groups from the toddlers to senior citizens. After the keynote session is given, the participants will break out in groups and delve into theme.

New this year! Sessions for the FOCUS age group (age 23-35) will be offered in English

To understand the Orthodox Faith, super session workshops will be provided.

The workshops will be offered simultaneously in English and Malayalam. Participants choose 1 of 3 workshops they would like to attend:

Super Session titles:

  • "The Orthodox Perspective on the Afterlife" (How our faith's view on the Afterlife differs from other Christian faiths)
  • "The Mysteries of the Holy Qurbana"
  • "Modern Influences on the Indian Orthodox Christian" (factors in modern-day life that prevent one from being still and knowing God, i.e., Work, media, technology, worry, other people, etc.)

Overall, Ms. Joseph feels the curriculum of the Conference will allow the participants the opportunity to look at life through a different set of lens and allows one to re-examine one's life and take steps to spiritual growth.

Throughout the conference, participants will be given the chance to “be still” through worship and meditation times. Friday evening, the participants will come together for retreat messages and to prepare themselves for the Holy Qurbana on Saturday morning. Prayers will be lead by the clergy. Rev. Fr. K. K. John, Chaplain, of the Conference, is coordinating to provide the faithful with full prayer life.

The Family and Youth Conference will address various aspects of person as whole. The Conference is an opportunity for participants to take a step away from their busy lives and to focus their time on God. The Conference will provide a spiritual atmosphere to help its participants to learn and grow in the faith.