It is spread across 627 districts in India. The ICYM functions through 13 Regions & 165 Dioceses. The dreams and aspirations of thousands of youth, animators, directors and bishops turned into a reality when CBCI (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India) had approved ICYM as a National Movement for the youth on 14th September, 1999. Currently in Mangalore diocese it functions under the banner of cen
tral council, with 10 deaneries and 90 parishes affiliated. Instituted in the Diocese as the catholic youth movement in the year 1947 in the Bejai Parish, it has been a premier youth organization of the Mangalore diocese. ICYM ushers in a paradigm shift in the life of the 'Young Church'. The youth in India are in a dilemma of disunity and discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, language and culture. Lack of true leadership, raising fundamentalism, alienation, choking unemployment, corruption at all levels are the alarming realities of the day. As we cruise in to the new millennium with tremendous hope and aspirations, the members of ICYM are now ready to discover the new frontiers that unfold. It is in this distressful context that the ICYM address the need of these young persons and works at empowering them in to action not only within the church but a conscious and deliberate immersion in the mainstream of secular life and activity in the heart of the world. Integral Development of Youth through Formation, Fellowship and Action being the main objectives of youth ministry, ICYM caters to varied needs of the holistic development of its young members. With its motto - "To Lead, to Serve, to Shine" there is a lot to be done and a whole community to be won.
