MAKATI: 5 May 2005 -- The First John Paul II Catechetics-Youth Ministry Conference initiated by the Don Bosco Center of Studies (Parañaque), through its Institute of Catechetics and Youth Ministry (DBCS-ICYM) is currently in its second day.
    Part of the world-wide celebration of the Year of the Eucharist for the Roman Catholic Church and the local celebration of the Marian Year in the Philippines, this conference brings together 400 catechists, religion teachers, youth ministers, campus ministers, priests and bishops and those involved in faith formation in parishes and Christian communities for experiences of prayer and worship, faith reflection, deepening faith formation skills and fellowship.
    Through this three day conference educators in the faith from all over the country are given the opportunity to grow professionally and spiritually in their respective ministries.
     In the morning sessions, participants reflect in Eucharistic celebration with the presiding bishops of the respective Episcopal commissions of Catechesis, Catholic Education and Youth on the life of the late Pope John Paul II as Catechist, as Youth Minister and as Champion of Youthful holiness.  In the concluding Eucharist which coincides with the feast of St. Dominic Savio and the end of celebrations of the 50th year of his canonisation, Salesian Bishop, Patrick Buzon of Kabankalan will lead the participants in reflection on the theme: "Dominic Savio - the Response to JPII's call to the young to be holy".  The Theological Conference proper focuses on Mary and the Eucharist.
     The afternoons are dedicated to different workshop modules options for each participant, including: Bible-Sharing Methods; Designing Youth Formation Sessions; Designing Liturgies for Youth; Children's Catechesis; Youth Culture; Liturgical Dance; Youth Educator Spirituality; Ethical Concerns of Young People; Youth and Media; Sunday Liturgy for Children; Dynamics of Youth Misbehaviour; Youth Surveys;
Billboard Catechesis; Marian Talk; Youth and Ecology, Basic Content for Faith Formation and Theology of the Crumbs.
     The Conference is hosted by the Don Bosco Technical Institute on the Makati campus.  As a joint project of these two Don Bosco schools, the conference is an expression of the commitment of the Philippine Salesian North Province to the work of evangelization and catechesis in the country and as a tribute to the late Pontiff who has been for the Youth of the Philippines an exemplary Catechist, Youth Minister and Model of holiness.