Our History

In the late 1980s, amid the growing momentum of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, a powerful move of the Holy Spirit was unfolding in different parts of the world. Inspired by this renewal—much like the early campus movements that later became Christ's Youth in Action, or the Jesus Youth Movement in South India that spread across the globe—young people were responding to a call to commit their lives to God and boldly witness their faith among their peers.

Within this larger movement of grace, the Christ the Deliverer Prayer Group was founded by Br. Romeo Fernando in the late 1980s. The Thursday prayer meetings quickly became a powerful centre of evangelization, drawing thousands of people from across the Vasai Diocese and beyond. A significant number of young people were deeply attracted to this outreach and were seen serving zealously in missions, ministries, and evangelistic activities.

Recognizing the unique hunger, potential, and calling of the youth, Br. Romeo Fernando, together with his leadership team, sensed a clear inspiration from the Lord to begin a dedicated youth outreach. This led to the birth of a Monday youth gathering, initially known as the Christ the Deliverer Youth Group. Week after week, nearly 200–300 young people gathered to worship the Lord, encounter His love, and grow in faith and discipleship.

What began as a local youth gathering soon developed into a movement. Its influence spread rapidly across Mumbai and beyond, becoming a major force in revitalizing youth evangelization. The movement played a decisive role in the expansion of the Bombay Charismatic Renewal youth outreach, Torchbearers for Christ, which grew remarkably from about 60 youth to nearly 1,000 active participants.

In 2005, under the leadership of the then Youth Director Br. Sanjay Ferreira (now Fr. Sanjay Ferreira), the movement was given its present name: Christian Youth in Power.

Since then, Christian Youth in Power has continued to play an instrumental role in evangelizing and transforming the lives of young people across Vasai and Mumbai. Rooted in worship, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and committed to proclaiming Christ, CYP remains a living testimony to how God uses young hearts to ignite renewal in the Church.