2nd National Campus Student Gathering

DS/st

Photos by Lucy and Dinah

Port Dickson : The 2nd National Campus Student Gathering was held in Champagnat Youth Centre (Marist Brothers), Port Dickson. It was a two-night and three-day meeting, beginning 4th to 6th July 2014. 

14 campus students, 15 full time youth ministers, 1 priest, 2 religious sisters and 1 permanent deacon from across the country gathered for the event. They put their heads together to plan on the upcoming national event, the first Malaysian Catholic Campus Students Day (MCCSD).

MCCSD is the outcome of the discussion of the 1st Natonal Campus Student Gathering in Pace Bene, Papar last year. The students had identified the common trends encountered by the Catholic campus students in Malaysia which include among others;

1. Weak foundation in the Catholic faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.
2. Cultural shock, making them susceptible to the values of the world.
3. Proselytization - Conversion to other religions and other denominations.
4. Struggle to cope with relationship and sexuality matters.
5. Restricted use of campus facilities for religious gathering. 

After a day of reflection and discussion, the students came out with the theme, Be Witnesses of Christ in Your Campus Life - Called, Chosen and Sent, based on Acts 22:15 "Because you are to be His witness before all humanity, testifying to what you have seen and heard." 

The objectives 

1. To experience a personal and intimate mystical encounter with Jesus.
2. To hold faith formation programs using YouCat / Apologetics to equip students for ecumenical and inter-religious dialogues sessions.
3. To create awareness among students on their religious rights in their respective campuses based on AUKU, colleges / university constitutions and the Malaysian Constitution.
4.  To build network between campuses to share ideas and concerns.

The 1st MCCSD will be held at the Archdiocesan Curia and St Joseph's Cathedral Pastoral Center, Archdiocese of Kuching on 14th to 20th July 2015. The number of participants has been set at 200 and is based on the number of colleges/universities in the diocese.

Max from Institut Perguruan Malaysia - Tawau.

The next meeting is set on the 10th to 12th April 2014 at the Archdiocese of Kuching. 

"For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" - Eph 2:10