18th October 2025: Ignite 2025 – a residential youth retreat organised by the ACJM youth ministry – began on 18th October 2025. The youth retreat, which was truly anointed, took place in Lar de Santa Terezinha, Margao, where 69 young boys and girls between the youthful age of 14-25 years would be led into having a deep God- experience over the next 3 days.
The young boys and girls were led through sessions of inner healing in the area of wounds caused by people around them, especially one’s own family members and therefore contained talks and testimonies that dealt with forgiveness & re-conciliation. Every talk was supported by a testimony by an experienced individual who had gone through those circumstances. The talks included topics on Idolatry, Importance of the Rosary, Playing with sin, Christian fellowship and much more.
Each morning began with the recitation of the Rosary conducted in creative ways such as Rosary processions through the campus & group prayers where every individual was prayed over in their respective groups in light of the struggles that they were facing at that moment.
The Eucharist was given much importance and with everyone participating devoutly in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. One of the sessions would include the documentary on the life of Carlo Acutis who himself gave much importance to the Eucharist and the frequent visitation of Jesus in the tabernacle.
As it is with youth, no youth retreat can be complete without lively music and the youthful choir led them through sessions of praise and worship accompanied with joyful and enthusiastic dancing to action songs, just as David did in honour of the Lord …
The games and activities that were conducted helped in the bonding of participants and breaking barriers of shyness and timidness while increasing their knowledge of the Bible and the Catholic faith. Some of the participants, who were born in October, also celebrated their birthdays with the cutting of the cake and singing of the birthday song.
The youth were also led through a special session of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament paving the way for healing and reconciliation with those who in their life till present had wounded them emotionally. Amid-st hot tears of repentance, all youth would later testify to the healing love of Jesus washing away bitter memories and instilling a fresh confidence to tackle life ahead – this time, with Jesus.
The youth were led through a session of infilling of the Holy Spirit on the last day before they would sing and dance for one last time before packing their bags to return back home, ready to face life with a renewed attitude in union with Christ Jesus.