Our Lady Of Dolours Church

The Youth Group in our Parish was started way back in 1974 by Rev. Fr. Ernest Fernandes.  It was called the Sonapur Youth Movement (SYM), which was the youth body organisation of Our Lady of Dolours Church, Sonapur,  Marine Lines.mUnder the guidance of Fr. Ernest they organised talent contests in dramatics, elocution, music, singing, and instrumentals for individuals and groups (Pop/Jazz and Classical).  This Movement conducted the All Bombay Talent Contests for 24 years for all parishes of Mumbai.  The Theme of the movement was “We have the Stage, do you have the talent?" This put our parish on the Map of Mumbai and it was considered as one of the most happening event in the city of Mumbai.   

 

Being a vibrant Parish, they besides the Talent Contest ensured the parishioners were very enthusiastic and attentive of their fellow members by organising many other events in the Parish which can be categorised into the following three groups:

 

CULTURAL
Parents Day where we got the children of the parish to put up various events like singing, dancing and skits and even further doing the catering and mementoes themselves. Youth Fest where we had a week’s program that  got all the youth of the parish come together and taking part in various activities throughout the week.

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SOCIAL
Activities like the zonal football for men and throwball tournament for women wherein, people from every zone put up a team. 

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SPIRITUAL
Youth involved themselves in the Parish Choir, Liturgical ministry, which helps in making the Holy Eucharist more meaningful and fruitful for the parishioners. Also conducted the holy Half Hour on first Friday of the Month. Put up a stall selling flowers during the novenas of the Nativity of Mother Mary – proceeds of which were given to the needy of the Parish through SVP.

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Now the Parish Youth Group is working on similar lines. They work on goals of DYC (Diocesean Youth Centre - which is the central body in the Archdiocese of Bombay for youth in the Catholic Church) which it incorporates in its yearly plan, and caters to the youth and the parishioners of OLDC.

 

We have approximately 30 Youth as of now and are open to welcoming all Catholic youth from our parish

 

Fr. Lester Vaz is the Director and we are fortunate to have a strong PYAT (Parish Youth Animating Team) who work tirelessly for youth activities. We also have Youth involved on a deanery level, who make an effort to co-ordinate the activities of deanery to parish.