Belgaum Diocese Draws Hundreds of Youth to Vocation Camps

Belgaum, May 6, 2026: In a renewed effort to foster discernment and deepen faith among young people, the Diocese of Belgaum organised a series of vocation camps across its deaneries in April, drawing enthusiastic participation from hundreds of children and youth.

The camps were held across the Belgaum & Khanapur, Hubli, Bagalkot, and Chandgad deaneries, each witnessing strong local engagement. Around 80 participants attended the programme at St. Antony’s Church, while nearly 180 gathered at St. Joseph’s Church. In Bagalkot Deanery, 72 young participants took part in the camp at Guledgud, and about 40 attended the gathering at Adkur in Chandgad Deanery.

Designed as spaces of prayerful reflection and active learning, the camps combined spiritual formation with interactive engagement. Daily schedules included the celebration of the Eucharist, Adoration, and guided prayer sessions, alongside vocation-oriented talks, group discussions, and cultural activities. Creative enactments and games added a participatory dimension, while personal vocation testimonies and Scripture reflections helped participants reflect more deeply on God’s call in their lives.

Organisers also conducted separate sessions for boys and girls, allowing for more open dialogue and personalised guidance. These focused interactions sought to help participants recognise their unique vocation and respond with clarity and confidence.

The initiative was coordinated by the Vocation Promotion Commission of the diocese under the leadership of Fr. Victor D’Cruz, Secretary, and Fr. Thomas Coutinho, Joint Secretary. Priests, religious, and seminarians from across the deaneries collaborated to ensure the smooth conduct of the programmes.

The strong turnout and active participation reflected a growing openness among young people to engage with questions of faith and vocation. By bringing together prayer, dialogue, and formation in a dynamic setting, the camps offered a meaningful platform for spiritual growth.

Church leaders view such initiatives as vital in nurturing a generation rooted in faith and guided by discernment—an encouraging sign for the future of the local Church in Belgaum.

By Fr. Alwin Christopher George

Secretary, Commission for Social Communication Diocese of Belgaum