KCYM

About KCYM

At present KCYM has around 200 active Parish units across 16 Foranes of our eparchy. KCYM is an Association and it has its preamble and the articles of law for the day-to-day functioning. The Archdiocesan Secretariat members and the Presidents of the Foranes constitute the Executive Council. General Council meeting is conducted half yearly and annually. The Office bearers are elected for two years. KCYM has its own structure in the Parish, Forane and Diocesan levels under the patronage of the local bishop. The representatives of the parish units come to constitute the Forane body and the Forane representatives form the Diocesan body of KCYM.

A Brief History

Ernakulam-Agamaly archdiocese has the history of pioneering the Catholic Youth Movement, the first of its kind in India, rather in Asia. Realising the indomitable power and spirit of the unorganized youth who migrated to the Ernakulam town, the Archbishop of Ernakulam- Angamaly, His Eminence Cardinal Mar Joseph Parecattil, took the initiative to start a movement for the aforesaid young people. Conducting various researches and studies, finally on 13 February 1959, Ernakulam Catholic Youth Association (ECYA) the first form of present KCYM was officially inaugurated by the then Archbishop of Bombay His Eminence Cardinal Valerian Gracious, atKalamassery.

ECYA's establishment was the result of the farsightedness and keen interest of Cardinal Mar Joseph Parecattil. E.C.Y.A started functioning in most of the parishes of our eparchy. In the year 1972, E.C.Y.A. was re-organized as Catholic Youth Federation (CYF), as an effort to popularize it and widen its functioning in all parishes of our eparchy. In July 1987, the Archdiocesan GeneralCouncil unanimously decided to rename C.Y.F to Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM)

The Youth Movement in its different forms has completed its fifty-three years of existence. The Youth association has paved way for a lot of revolutionary changes and developments in the Archdiocese. The integral development of the young people has been its main aim and to a certain extent KCYM has succeeded in contributing a large number of committed young people to the Church and society.