Since 1998, the Christmas Outreaches have been one of the major annual events of Jesus Youth Delhi. This year the 25th Christmas Outreach was conducted with an Exhibition at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi.
The exhibition was inaugurated on 24th December at Sacred Heart Cathedral by Most Rev. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi. Preparations began months in advance, with various JY teams coming together for prayer and planning to share the message of Christ. Kerygma training sessions were held in November helping volunteers get ready for this mission. The intercession for the outreach included a 7-day Jericho prayer around the venue starting on 18th of December.
On 22nd December, work began on setting up the stalls for the Christmas Exhibition at the Diocesan Community Centre in the Cathedral premises. Young JY volunteers worked day and night to complete the setup within a tight deadline. The exhibition was officially opened to the public at 5pm on 24th December and continued to welcome visitors late into the night of 25th December.
The exhibition had over seventeen stalls, each explaining the story of God's plan for salvation. The overarching theme for this year was “Jesus – The Lamb of God”. The stalls covered topics like God’s love, the reality of sin, sacrifices in ancient liturgy, prophecies of the Savior, the birth of Christ, and redemption through the Cross. An image of a young lamb was shown on a manger of thorns, symbolising the baby that was born to die for our sins. Through creative displays, visitors could learn about Jesus’ life, teachings, miracles, and healing. Other stalls focused on the Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, Saints, and Church. Visitors also had an opportunity at the altar to invite Jesus into their lives and share the joy of Christmas on sticky notes and takeaway tracts for their friends. JY volunteers were present at each stall to explain the displays and share their personal testimonies as well.
A Pro-Life stall addressed social issues like abortion, contraception, and euthanasia, as well as topics like pornography and addiction. Leaflets on the dignity of life were distributed to the visitors. To prepare for this stall, JY volunteers who had been studying the Theology of the Body over the years had a special training across 3 days by the JY National Pro-Life team.
The JY Intercession team also collected prayer intentions from the visitors. Throughout the exhibition, volunteers took turns interceding and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This constant intercession was a vital part of the event. The Christmas Exhibition aimed to touch the hearts of all the visitors and help them discover Christ on Christmas Day. It was a chance to share God’s love and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior!
