By Augustine Orapine

After some years break, the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, St. Francis Parish, Benin City, came together in a vibrant Youth Week celebration aimed at strengthening faith, unity and friendship.

The 2025 edition, themed “Ignis Dei Amor: Igniting God’s Love” with the motto “Rooted in Faith, Growing in Love,” ran for a week and featured a retreat, spelling bee, talk show, indoor games, orphanage visitation, picnic, hangout, and a thanksgiving Mass.

Speaking in an interview with Veritas Newspaper, the Vice Chairman of the planning committee, Miss Eseohe Chris-Bello, revealed that the program was aimed at spiritual growth, youth engagement, unity, and development. “The main objectives were spiritual growth, youth engagement, unity, and development.

“Spiritual growth in the sense that we have noticed that most of us need an avenue to draw closer to God and to focus on the main reason why we are here living for the ways of the Kingdom.

“Youth engagement was also very important because the executives realized that most youths in the parish don’t really know one another. This week created opportunities for us to bond and get to know each other better through various activities.

“Unity and development were also key. The aim was to foster unity among the youths so that when you see your brother or sister in need, you can support them. If you know someone personally, it becomes easier to reach out and assist them.

“Today marks the last day of the program. Looking back, I can say the entire week was successful, though it was a bit challenging at the beginning.” She said

The CYON President, Asemota Iguodala Emmanuella, praised the effort and commitment of the planning committee.

“The Youth Week was well-planned and well-executed. If I may say, the committee really did a great job, and I am very impressed. Participation was also encouraging, especially considering that it has been about four or five years since we last had a Youth Week. So, this was more like reviving the program, and for a first attempt under my tenure, it was actually very impressive.” She appraised.

For Olokpa Rita, one of the participants, the spelling bee was a major highlight. “I was thrilled by the intelligence of the children. They were resilient, bold, and very smart. Honestly, I was surprised and deeply impressed. I truly enjoyed that aspect of the week.” She said.

Another participant identified as Omiyi Eboselume Precious, reflected on the talk show “Vibes and Values: Choosing Joy without Losing Yourself.”

“I was intrigued by how well it explained the balance between having fun and still holding on to our values. No matter how much fun we have, we must always return to our Creator, return to God, and remember where we started from. That session was truly inspiring for me.” She said.

She added that the interactive session on social media and relationships was particularly eye-opening. “I learned so much about communication, and it really gave me new insights. For the future, I would suggest including more units so activities don’t fall only on one particular set of people. If more youths volunteer, everyone will feel more included.”

An Emeritus Vice President, Nosa Osunde, expressed pride in the new executives and the growth of the parish youths. “It has always been my passion to encourage the youth of St. Francis. My inspiration has always been the zeal for the growth and development of the youths. The new executives really did a lot to make this Youth Week possible, and I must say I am impressed. The youths of St. Francis are vibrant, creative, and capable. The future of St. Francis is in good hands.” He said.

The parish chaplain, Rev. Fr. Andy Usuoge, supervised the program, which participants described as spiritually enriching and socially uniting.

Closing the week with a word of advice, Miss Eseohe reminded his peers to remain steadfast in faith: “Focus on God. In everything you do, put God first. Don’t neglect your prayers. Also, being spiritual doesn’t mean being boring. Live joyfully, love one another, and build friendships. If people don’t know you, they won’t know when you need help. Come out, get involved, and let others walk with you in faith.

The Youth Week, after years of absence, was hailed as a revival of energy, faith, and unity among the youths of St. Francis Parish.