Philippine Youth in Palo for a Church of Hope
The devastation caused by Typhoon Hayan 11 years ago has strengthened the faith of people in Leyte, which is hosting the 22nd National Conference of Youth Ministers (NCYM) until Sunday. Hundreds of delegates are attending the biennial event to look at the role of youth in the Church. Archbishop John F. Du tells young people: “Hope is present because of you.”
Palo (AsiaNews) – Eleven years after the devastating Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Yolanda) Palo, Leyte province, is currently hosting the 22nd National Conference of Youth Ministers (NCYM), which began on Wednesday with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop John F. Du, and will end on Sunday.
Centred on the theme “Abound in joy: Christ is our hope”, the gathering drew hundreds of people from different dioceses to the Archdiocese of Palo.
NCYM is a biennial event bringing together Philippine youth ministers to coordinate, share information, and develop new skills.
It is made possible through the collaboration of the Youth Ministry, reinforcing its role as a vital part of the Church's mission.
The location is significant considering that on 18 November 2013 Yolanda devastated Leyte, an island of the Visayas group, in particular Tacloban and nearby cities.
The Category 5 hurricane struck the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Palau, Micronesia, and southern China, causing more than 6,300 deaths.
Since then, the people of Leyte have clung to their steadfast faith, finding comfort in the undeniable truth that God is always with them.
This helped them rise from the deepest oblivion, making the light of Jesus Christ shine – amid emptiness and destruction, God's voice has become louder for them.
The typhoon represented an encounter, a story of despair, death and hope. In November 2013, winds reached a maximum speed of 315 km/h, causing damage estimated at US$ 2.98 billion, the costliest single weather event in the history of the Philippines.
About 15 to 20 per cent of Philippine Catholics are young who attend Sunday Mass or participate in the sacramental life of the Church, but they are not members of any group or organisation.
During the meeting, reaching out to them through the catechism was recognised as an important task. In addition to delegates from various dioceses, several youth organizations are present, representing various parts of the Philippines.
The five-day conference convened by the Episcopal Commission on Youth, kicked off with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope in Communion”, which inspires everyone to embark on their journey into the community as young servant leaders.
The conference reminds pastoral workers of the importance of uniting as one and reaffirming their hope in Christ Jesus, the living God.
At the opening on Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, built in 1596, Archbishop John F. Du of Palo said, addressing the youth, "Hope is present because of you."
In the same address, he asked those present to pray for the protection of marriage and families from efforts to legalise divorce in the Philippines. “The destruction of families is one of the great reasons why many young people today are lost in hope,” he said.
Starting from the foundation of communion, yesterday, the second day of the conference, he focused on the abundance of joy and hope. As Pope Francis pointed out, Saint Paul said to rejoice in hope despite challenges and trials.
Participants were guided through a planning session to inspire them to envision a future full of hope and purpose, guided by the principles of discipleship and stewardship echoed in the Directory for Youth Ministry in the Philippines, Ka-Lakbay.
.png)
31/10/2008
