2946 FIN Youth events
austraLasia #2946
 
Philippines: A Series of Emmaus Events

MANILA: 21 November 2011 --  11-19 November, the Church in the Philippines declared 16 December 2010-11 as the National Year of  Youth and ; it is also the 25th anniversary of the institution of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Youth. This year, for Salesians, commenced with the arrival of the Relic of Don Bosco in the country. One of the highlight activities of the Year of the Youth is the Pilgrimage of the National Youth Cross (NYC). The NYC was blessed and had begun its journey around the Philippines through the different dioceses and youth organizations on 31 January 2011.

Canlubang, Laguna – On 11 November 2011, at exactly 11:11 am, the Cross arrived and was set for the Welcome Rites at Don Bosco—Canlubang, Laguna. A sea of flags and hand waves accompanied the cross as it was carried and mounted on its stand on stage. The Rectors of the three communities present in the complex formally welcomed and blessed the cross followed by the celebration of the Mass. After the Mass, the aspirants and prenovices transferred the Cross to the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (still within the complex) were groups of young people from within the school and nearby communities held vigils and prayer services. The following day, about 600 youth animators and leaders from FIN Salesian settings attending the Salesian Youth  Animators’ and Leaders’ Assembly (SYALA) on Vocation, celebrated the Holy Mass with the Cross before it was turned-over to the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines.

Metro Manila—14-18 November 2011. The National Youth Day 2011 (which is the Philippines version of World Youth Day which also lasts for a week) saw about 3000 young pilgrims coming from all over the Philippines. The Opening Mass and Welcome Program were held at Don Bosco Technical Instititute, Makati. Bishop Patrick Buzon, SDB and Bishop Precioso Cantillas, SDB concelebrated the mass presided by the Episcopal Commission on Youth Chair, Bishop Joel Baylon  with other bishops and priests.

From 15-17 November, the pilgrims were divided into different Festival Sites, three of which are Salesian settings namely, Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong; Don Bosco Youth Center, Tondo; and, The National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Parañaque. Through plenary talks and workshops, the pilgrims deepened on the same theme of the World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith (Col. 2:7).”

Fr. Favie Faldas, SDB the Delegate of the FIN Commission on Youth, led the steering committee of the event which comprised of the leaders of the different youth organizations present in the Philippines. The students of theology in Don Bosco Center of Studies, Prenovices and Postnovice brothers helped animate and facilitate the workshops in their respective festival sites. Salesian priests in the venues offered their time to listen to the confessions of the pilgrims.

18 November—A Marian Pilgrimage to the venue of the Closing Mass and Grand Festival Night gathered the pilgrims from their festival sites. The highlight of the Grand Festival Night was the awarding of the Blessed John Paul II Youth Ministry Awards. Of the twenty-five awards, three were received by Salesians: Br. Elmer Rodriguez, SDB; Bishop Leo Drona, and the Salesians of Don Bosco as a corporate body. Citing the nature of the award from the official PR, the recipients “have championed the youth and the youth ministry in the country were given the awards for their service, for being an inspiration and model for the next generation of Catholic youth leaders and ministers (http://youthpinoy.com/index.php/yp-latest/yp-news/252-25-youth-ministers-awarded#en).”

It was indeed an Emmaus experience for the youth of the Philippines and we are happy and very grateful to the Lord that the Salesians in the Philippines had an active part in it. It is in time for the call of the Rector Major to rethink our Salesian Youth Ministry.