4819(II)_Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust and Reconciliation

Hosted in Hongkong

August 15, 2018

By Fr. Jose Lorbeth L. Vivo, SDB

Hong kong, 12 August 2018 -- The “Pilgrimage of Trust and Reconciliation – an International Meeting of Young Adults” organized by the Community of Taizé in collaboration with the Local Churches was held in Hong Kong.

Bro. Alois of the Taizé community describes the event with these words “the pilgrimage of trust is above all an encounter with the Risen Christ and with others. Thanks to common prayer, everyone makes himself available to God. Through sharing and hospitality, everyone accepts to overcome frontiers and differences to welcome and enrich one another.”

The meeting began on August 8 with the evening prayer at the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Anglican Cathedral of St. John attended by over 2, 000 pilgrims coming from over 40 countries.

The Salesian Youth Movement – Philippines was represented by 39 pilgrims coming from the following settings and groups:

• Don Bosco College Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna: Ms. Joyce Bacuyag, Mr. Erbert dela Resma, Ms. Anita Maullion, Fr. Abel de Ocampo, Jr., SDB
• Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati: Mr. Ramon Francesco Carbon, Mr. Teofilo Isaac III, Mr. Franz Advent Padilla, Ms. Victoria Salazar, Ms. Marilou Sibayan, Ms. Maria Gloria Alda Sumbingco
• Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga: Ms. Alyana Catap, Mr. Bryx Andre Mationg, Ms. Angelica Dizon, Mr. Armando Carrera III, Fr. Marc Will Lim, SDB
• Don Bosco Technical Institute, Tarlac: Mr. Joseph Ivan Chung, Mr. Ariel Escoto, Jr, Ms. Blu Grace Fernando, Ms. Macflor Angelnina Vanguardia, Ms. Zyle Ruth Lacsina
• Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong: Ms. Andrea Teresa Idioma, Mr. Jose Elian Idioma, Ms. Maria Sofia Idioma, Mr. Gideon Nikolai Leyva, Mr. Dave Reyes, Ms. Cheryl Vinluan
• Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center, Legazpi: Ms. Jyrnie Lopo, Ms. Teresa Dexisne, Fr. Ronilo Javines, SDB
• Don Bosco Youth Center, Tondo: Mary Edrelyn Magbutay
• Vocations Animation Sector (Ministry): Fr. Jayson David, SDB
• Salesian Youth Movement – FIN Core Group: Ms. Patricia Leigh Hermano, Fr. Juvelan Paul Samia, SDB
• Salesian Youth Movement - FIS: Ms. Patricia Rachelle Farrarons
• Salesian Youth Movement - FMAFil: Mr. Diego Lim Contreras, Mr. Robson Tagle, Ms. Hicey-Lady Hernan
• CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth: Ms. Lea Darasigan, Mr. Stephen Borja

The pilgrims from the SYM-FIN were accommodated at the Aberdeen Technical School together with about 115 others.

The Taizé meeting followed the following basic schedule:

• Morning Prayer according to color groups
• Small Group sharing
• Midday Prayer at the two Cathedrals
• Lunch
• Simultaneous Workshops
• Dinner
• Evening Prayer with a meditation from Br. Alois at the two Cathedrals

On Friday evening (August 10), the pilgrims prayed around the cross which was laid on the floor. They knelt before the icon and touched it as a gesture of entrusting their burdens and those of others to Christ, the savior of all. Leaders and representatives from the different religious traditions including Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Church Renewal Movement, and Christian Council also joined the rite in a powerful witness of Church communion and a touching expression of solidarity.

The following evening (August 11), the prayer included the ceremony of the light whereby the brothers spread the light from the Paschal candle, symbolizing the Resurrected Lord, to all the pilgrims inside the Cathedral.

The meeting concluded with the Sunday worship in the different localities where the pilgrims were hosted.

His Eminence, Joseph Cardinal Zen, SDB, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong celebrated the Holy Eucharist for those accommodated at the Aberdeen Technical School. In his homily, the Cardinal reminded the pilgrims of the great sufferings being endured by many Christians all over the world who are persecuted because of their faith in Christ. After the Mass, His Eminence met the pilgrims from the SYM-Philippines. He shared to them his personal encounters with the Servant of God, Fr. Carlo Braga, SDB and the current situation of the Church in Mainland China and Hong Kong. At the end of the encounter, the pilgrims sang the Our Father in Filipino, their national language, for the intentions of His Eminence and of the Church in China. In return, the Cardinal graciously imparted on them his blessings.

In the afternoon of Sunday, the pilgrims from the different EAO provinces gathered at the Aberdeen Technical School for the Salesian Youth Day. It was a wonderful experience of joy, friendship, and family for all those who joined.

The pilgrims returned to their countries with a heart renewed by their encounter with Christ and their fellow pilgrims.