RYC draws over 5k youth on 3rd day

Over 5,000 Catholic faithful from across the Northeast gathered at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima, on Sunday as the 5th Regional Youth Convention (RYC) entered its third day.
The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil. In his homily, he reflected on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, urging the faithful to build their lives on a strong foundation of faith and unity. He said the two saints symbolised diversity, strength and purpose in the Church.
The morning also featured a session by PhD scholar and psychiatric social worker, Edlina Kerketta, who spoke on “Navigating Peer Pressure and the World”. She shared strategies for resisting harmful peer influences and building emotional resilience through faith and self-awareness.
In the second session, Johnny Ruangmei, president of Catholic Association of Nagaland, encouraged youth to become digital missionaries by using social media to spread the Gospel. Ketholelie Basil Whuorie of ARK Foundation addressed drug abuse, warning of rising addiction among youth and calling for greater awareness and empathy. Social worker Jeremai Krong advised youth to avoid toxic relationships and seek spiritual and personal mentorship.
Rev. Fr. Michael Makri led a session on using social media through a Christian lens. He spoke on “apologetics” and shared ways youth can engage online with truth and compassion using tools like AI, games, and open-source platforms.
Later, Indian Catholic Youth Movement North East (ICYM-NE) Excellence Awards 2025 were presented to youths from 15 dioceses.
Former Arunachal CM, Nabam Tuki, attended as special guest, while director of Youth Resources and Sports, Kethosituo Sekhose, gave away the awards.
The four-day convention is organised by the North Eastern Regional Youth Commission (NERYC) and hosted by the Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement (NCYM).