Shillong, June 21: The eighth national youth convention of the Catholic Church of India here will discuss ways and means to reduce poverty, rejuvenate the environment and build a culture of peace.

The convention is being hosted by the Archdiocese of Shillong at the St Anthony’s HS School ground from October 10 to 17 this year.

Addressing a news conference today, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Shillong Dominic Jala said the convention would focus on three areas — poverty eradication, rejuvenation of the environment and spreading peace with the theme, “Live the word, liberate the world”.

The convention, held once in three years, facilitates holistic interaction among the youths from the different regions of the country.

According to the Archbishop, consumerism and individualism have posed hurdles for the people to lend a helping hand to eradicate poverty.

The Church is also concerned over the degradation of the environment and growing violence, issues that need to be addressed urgently.

“We are happy that various schools in Meghalaya have taken up initiatives to protect the environment by way of tree plantations and awareness programmes,” Jala said.

He also said Catholic youths had observed World Environment Day on June 5 across Meghalaya.

Jala said several schools had also started human rights education, which would help youths to spread the message of peace.

The Archbishop said around 2,000 delegates would participate in the convention.

The delegates coming from 13 regions of the country to the Northeast will get a first-hand experience of staying with Catholic families for two days prior to the start of the convention.

“The idea is to provide a true picture of the region to the delegates from outside the state as very often, the Northeast is projected badly as a region always afflicted by violence,” the Archbishop said. “Besides inculcating the missionary spirit, the convention will help people of our region to share our unique culture, hospitality and faith with those coming from other parts of the country,” he said.

The Archbishop urged those who painted graffiti of Jesus and the Pope on the walls in Shillong to clarify on what they wanted to communicate through the act.

To a question on whether the graffiti was a manifestation of the Church not addressing the issues of corruption and social evils, the Archbishop said, “There are many interpretations doing the rounds. The aggrieved parties should have specified what exactly they wanted.”

Jala also said the Catholic Church was silently doing its job against any form of corruption in society.

“We are committed to ensure that society is free from all forms of corruption,” he added.