In a bold move that redefines the intersection of faith and civic duty, the Archdiocese of Delhi has expanded its youth mentoring program to prepare young people for India’s most competitive civil service examinations. What began as career-orientation sessions in May 2022 at Yusuf Sadan has evolved into ‘Pehal – Ek Prayaas’ (‘Initiative – A New Effort’), a structured coaching program launched in September 2024 that now prepares students for the Staff Selection Commission exam, Common University Entrance Test, and the prestigious Union Public Service Commission examination. Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto of Delhi signed a circular on June 10 formalizing the expansion, which includes weekly classes, expert mentoring, library access, and study materials—all for a token fee of 1,000 rupees (approximately $11).

This initiative represents more than educational outreach; it embodies a profound spiritual truth: that service to society is service to the Divine. In many wisdom traditions, the concept of dharma—righteous duty—calls individuals to use their talents for the common good. By preparing young people for civil service, the Church is not merely helping them secure jobs but nurturing future stewards of justice, compassion, and ethical governance. The program’s modest fee structure ensures accessibility, reflecting the Gospel principle that wisdom and opportunity should not be commodities for the privileged but gifts shared freely. As Archbishop Couto noted in his circular, the aspirants are “welcome and encouraged to use the Diocesan Community Centre library for their regular study”—a gesture that transforms a mundane study space into sacred ground where vocation is discerned.

Historically, the Church has long understood that spiritual formation cannot be divorced from practical discipleship. The monastic tradition taught that laborare est orare—to work is to pray. This coaching program extends that wisdom into the secular realm, recognizing that a civil servant who drafts policy with integrity, allocates resources with fairness, or resolves disputes with mercy is performing a sacramental act. The program’s focus on fields like government service, law, the judiciary, and the armed forces reveals a holistic vision: that every sector of society can be transformed by souls grounded in contemplation and action. Daisy Panna, secretary of the archdiocese’s Commission for the Laity, has helped orchestrate this vision, ensuring that career guidance becomes vocational discernment—helping young people ask not just “What job can I get?” but “How can I serve?”

For readers seeking deeper meaning, this story offers a powerful takeaway: our daily work, however secular it may seem, is an arena for spiritual practice. Whether you are preparing for an exam, leading a team, or raising a family, the question is not whether you serve but how you serve. The Archdiocese of Delhi reminds us that institutions rooted in faith can be laboratories for justice, preparing souls not just for careers but for covenant. As the 2025 Jubilee Year approaches, ‘Pehal – Ek Prayaas’ stands as a model for how spiritual communities can empower the next generation to see their ambitions as offerings, their exams as pilgrimages, and their future roles as ministries of peace. The library at Chetanalaya basement may hold reference books, but the true curriculum is love in action—and that is a syllabus every soul can embrace.