A gathering of Young Diocesan Councilors

On the invitation of the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, the Young Diocesan Councilors who participated in Diocesan Council 2022 were invited for a gathering on the 4th and 5th of February 2023. The programme began with the participants joining the Independence Day service at Christ Church Galle Face. The Bishop addressed the participants on the purpose and objectives of this initiative and encouraged them to make the best use of the two days in getting to know their role and purpose and one another. The introduction of the participants was through symbols that they had brought from their regions. The Young Councilor resource persons were creative in their presentations of the structure of the Diocese and finance with the Registrar of the Diocese speaking about the constitution.

A marketplace was organised where various Boards and Missions of the Diocese had stalls and the participants visited these stalls to get a better understanding of the mission of the church. Thereafter they went on a church tour, visiting St. Thomas' Church Ginthupitiya, Christ Church Mutwal and the Christian Reformed Church Wolvendaal Street. The first day's proceedings came to an end with a campfire. The second day began with the Holy Communion service, where the Young Diocesan Councilors joined the CCYM flag day service at St. Luke's Church Borella. The preacher was a young Councilor while the Bishop presided at the Eucharist. During this service, the members of the CCYM Exco and the YF pinned the flags on the Bishop, clergy and past Exco members. After the service, the gathering continued with the participation of the YF of St. Luke's Church Borella. This was an interaction with the Bishop where the participants were able to share their thoughts on the Diocese and make their suggestions on the way forward. The uniqueness of this programme was that it was planned by a group of Young Councilors and they were the resource persons too, showing that the youth of the Diocese are well resourced.

Photos