Pastoral Center (Patria de Cebu),
P. Burgos St., Cebu City 6000
Official Theme Song
The official stand of the Caholic Church; choosing life and rejecting the RH Bill.
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27th Local World Youth Day
A massive gathering of young pilgrims took place on the occasion of the 27th Local World Youth Day, last March 30 - April 1, 2012. The three-day meeting of representatives from Cebu parishes, youth groups/ orgs and dioceses of Maasin, Naval, Talibon, Calbayog, Cotabato, Butuan ug Benguet gave the participants an opportunity to reflect together on the theme "Stand firm in the Faith, Do all your works in Love."
The District 1 - Cebu North parishes were the hosts for this year's celebration. These host parishes prepared the LWYD's programs and activities designed to enrich this year's catechesis, as well as the immersion and family fostering. Aside from the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Recoletos Parish, which is the lead-host, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Sacred Heart Parish, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Blessed Sacrament, San Vicente, Sto. Rosario, Alliance of Two Hearts, St. Therese, St. Joseph and Guadalupe parishes also shared in fostering the youth pilgrims at their parishioners' homes.
The overnight activity, scheduled last March 31 until the following day, highlighted the archdiocesan youth event, as it coincides with the World Youth Day celebration in Rome, Italy. The Archbishop of Cebu, His Excellency Jose S. Palma, graced the said affair and led a dialogue with the youth, discussing Teenage Pregnancy, the use of Facebook or other social networking sites, Ecumenism and Spirituality of Blessed Pedro vis-a-vis the Church's stand on RH Bill.
« Read More« Homily of Cardinal Vidal
« See Pictures
4th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CAMPUS MINISTERS
The Archdiocesan Campus Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Ministry on Campus (formerly Campus Ministry) Archdiocesan Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Manila are partnering to organize the 4th National Convention of Campus Ministers on April 24-26, 2012 at Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City.
Our theme is "New Directions in Campus Ministry: Discovering Roadmaps for Youth Guides of Today." The convention aims to have a venue for the exchange of stories and approaches in ministering to our youth today. We have invited guest speakers and facilitators from Manila, Cebu and Davao. We wish to nurture and enhance the personhood and competencies of campus ministers in order to face the challenges of ministering to the young.
In view of this, we wish to invite you to this large gathering of campus ministers, chaplains, youth directors, youth ministers, educators, theologians, religion teachers and student leaders. We hope that this shall be an occasion where we are together in our search for better ways and approaches and forge a network that will create positive impact to the growth and spirituality of young people.
For interested parties, you can email the Cebu organizers, headed by Rev. Fr. Jake Reyes, Director, Archdiocesan Campus Minisry of Cebu, COO, 4th nccm, at cebu_acm@yahoo.com.ph or fax to tel. no. 4168002.
« View ProgramConsistory for the vote on some causes of canonization
- Pedro Calungsod, a lay catechist, martyr, born in Ginatilan or Naga in Cebu (Philippines) in 1654 and killed on Guam of the Mariana Archipelago April 2, 1672;
During the consistory, the Pope decreed that the Blessed: James Berthieu, Pedro Calungsod; Piamarta John the Baptist, Mary of Mount Carmel, Mary Anne Cope, Catherine Tekakwitha and Anna Schäffer are enrolled among the Saints Sunday, October 21, 2012.
« Read More« Read Message of His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
« Cebu Youths' reactions/ comments
Logo for Pedro Calungsod Canonization
Theme: Kinabuhing Gi-ula, Pagtuong Gimantala(Life that is Offered, Faith that is Proclaimed)
In designing the event logo of the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, we followed the following rules of:
-
Uniqueness
- Face of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in contemporary art form -
Timelessness (Memorable)
- Classic circular shape and design -
Adaptability
- Can be reduced without losing essential elements -
Scalability
- Can be reduced without losing essential elements -
Simplicity
- Containing 5 basic elements
Youthlinks Run
The Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Cebu wishes to thank all those who participated in the recent YOUTHLINKS RUN, a benefit fun run for the completion of the Archdiocesan Youth Center for Spirituality and Skills-Training. This wellness program, which was organized by a team composed of Mr. Joel Baring, Event Coordinator, Ms. Algen Teh, Arlene Te and Tere Singco, was held at Parkmall's West Parking Area last December 11, 2011.
The event was meant to "highlight the nationwide culmination of the one-year celebration of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Year of the Youth (16 December 2010-16 December 2011). It also aimed to intensify awareness about the youth and their importance to the life and activity of the Church."
« Read More« See Pictures
Blessing and Inauguration of the Archdiocesan Youth Center
A Solemn Blessing & Inauguration was held last November 12, 2011 for our Archdiocesan Youth Center for Spirituality and Skills Development, with more than a hundred invited guests, benefactors and friends attending. The celebration was led by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu and His Excellency Bishop Julito Cortes, who came to represent the Archbishop of Cebu, Archbishop Jose Palma, who, by the time of the celebration, made his trip to Rome, Italy.
The Youth Center, which is located beside the Cebu Cathedral, along P Gomez St., Cebu City, has been a product of pure hard work and God's grace. The construction funds came from personal donations and from a series of fundraising programs initiated by the COY volunteers.
Now that the center is done, it will realize its purpose and plan to create an ambience for a study hub, a school for the out-of-school youth and a sanctuary for young people to encounter God through spiritual activities.
Kindly call us thru our direct telephone line is 032-520-5234 for more info. Please come and visit our youth center!
« Message of Cardinal Vidal« Message of Engr. Lureñana
« Words of Acknowledgment
« Watch the Youth Center: The Journey
« See pictures
Rosary Crusade for World Peace
In coordination with the Archdiocese of Manila Family Rosary Crusade For World Peace. Through Mary and as a project of the Archdiocesan Council of Marian Devotions, we will launch in our Archdiocese a Rosary Crusade beginning October 7, 2011 until May 31, 2012, the Feast of Mary of All Nations.
- Parishes that have Mary as Patroness or Secondary Patroness are declared as Pilgrim Centers on October 7, 2011 till May 31, 2012.
- All Marian organizations and movements are to be grouped as Parish Council of Marian Devotions.
- All parishes are to be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during all Sunday Masses of October 9, 2011. On October 2, 2011, I will consecrate our Archdiocese during the 3pm Pontifical Mass at Sto. Rosario Parish.
- All cities and towns are exhorted to each pray and offer one million rosaries for said intention. Each person can commit to pray 200 rosaries between October 7, 2011 - May 31, 2012.
- We have grouped the countries into five continents, namely Asia, Africa, America, Europe and Oceania. Since there are five decades in the Holy Rosary, our intention will be for one decade per continent.
« Read More
« 1 Million Rosaries Official Website
« Prayer to Mary
Dinner for a Cause
The Dinner for a Cause, which was held recently at the Grand Convention Center, Cebu City, was not meant only to raise funds for the youth center project but also an occasion to launch the Cardinal Vidal's fourth book, entitled, "You're still young, I'm old ... a Conversation with the Youth of Cebu," which comes at a time when the CBCP declares this year as the Year of the Youth.
Finally the dream of having a written counsel for the young has become a reality through the publication of this book which features the dialogues between the cardinal and the Cebuano youth in Local World Youth Day celebrations that he led as archbishop.
This book is more than just a collection of his talks and conversations with the youth; it is a revelation of a father's affection and concern for his growing children, discussing real youth issues, such as, topics like spirituality to sexuality, entertainment to environment, fraternities to responsible media consumption.
The books are now on sale at P450 each copy. You can buy them from our COY office (032-253-0173) and YouthLinks Center (032-254-6065) during office hours. Or you can get them from the National Shrine of St. Joseph's parish office (032-344-3354), Centro, Mandaue City.
« Cardinal's Message at the Book Launching« CDN's article: Pilgrimage by Jason A. Baguia (August 21 2011 issue)
« See pictures during Dinner for a Cause
« Lyrics of "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens
Circular No. 5/11: Urgent Call for Prayer and Sacrifice
A Circular Letter # 05/11(re: Urgent Call for Prayer and Sacrifice) is issued just recently by our new Archbishop, Most Rev. Jose S. Palma. In this letter addressed 'to the Clergy, Religious and Beloved People of God, the Archbishop of Cebu is calling upon all the faithful for 'Prayer and Sacrifice.'
The letter further exhorts everyone to be vigilant in prayer and to use the Oratio Imperata in all masses, imploring God, our loving Creator, " to direct us and our leaders ... that we may formulate laws that acknowledge the supreme value of human life and the dignity of the person and its rights that will conform to the Divine Will."
His Excellency is also enjoining all the people of God to participate in the upcoming Prayer and Sacrifice for Life, a prayer procession which will start from the Fuente Osmeña Cirle to the Metropolitan Cathedral for a Eucharistic Celebration with Archbishop Palma. This prayer procession is scheduled on March 19, 2011 at 5:00PM.
« Message from Archbishop Palma« Read Circular Letter #05/11
« Oratio Imperata / Videos Relating to RH Bill
« Prayer Guide for Vigil
« Science Facts on RH Bill
« Choosing Life. Rejecting the RH Bill. (Video)

Message on the occassion of the 24th World Youth Day 2009
Homily of his Holiness during the Celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord
The Church is continuous in her effort to speak the language of today’s generation and to seek them in the various realities and situations they are familiar with, like the Internet.
Read More
Messages of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Young People
R1CARDO J. CARDINAL VIDAL
Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth
Bishop of Masbate


Messages of the youth for the Cardinal »
ADDRESS AT THE INSTALLATION OF HIS EXECELLENCY, MOST REV. JOSE PALMA, DD
AS THE FOURTH ARCHBISHOP OF CEBU
January 13, 2011; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
By RICARDO J. CARDINAL VIDAL
Archbishop of Cebu
I look at you with pride in my eyes, for I have seen you grow and mature, in faith in the years that I have been your pastor. It is not only you who have grown, your faith has also strengthened mine. There were times when circumstances sometimes lead to question my faith, but you were always there to affirm once again the presence of God in my life. Pastor and sheep --- we rely on each other for sustenance.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR YOUNG SAINTS
You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:13-14)
Just as salt gives flavour to food and light illumines the darkness,
so too holiness gives full meaning to life and makes it reflect God's glory.
How many saints, especially young saints, can we count in the Church's history!
In their love for God their heroic virtues shone before the world, and so they became
models of life which the Church has held up for imitation by all. Let us remember only
a few of them: Agnes of Rome, Andrew of Phu Yen, Pedro Calungsod, Josephine Bakhita,
Therese of Lisieux, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Marcel Callo, Francisco Castello Aleu or again
Kateri Tekakwitha, the young Iroquois called "the Lily of the Mohawks". Through the intercession
of this great host of witnesses, may God make you too, dear young people, the saints of
the third millennium! --

Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World on the Occasion
of the XVII World Youth Day (Toronto 18-28 July 2002)

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. To escape persecution and death threats, Kateri joined the new Christian colony of Indians in Canada. Here she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged. Every morning, even in bitterest winter, she stood before the chapel door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified. At 23, she took a vow of virginity, a heroic and unprecedented act for a Native American woman, who was expected to marry.
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ON OUR LORD'S PASSION, DEATH RESSURECTION, AND ASCENSION
- Q. What did Jesus Christ suffer?
A. Jesus Christ suffered a bloody sweat, cruel scourging. Was crown with thorns, and was crucified. - Q. On what day did Jesus Christ die?
A. Christ died on Good Friday. - Q. Why did Christ suffer and die?
A. Christ suffered and died for our sins.
Source:
"A Catechism of Christian Doctrine" (Baltimore Catechism)
Saint Benedict Press in association with Baronius Press MMVI
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There are no changes in the Liturgy only in the English translation! There will be a series of seminars to be given by the Commission on Worship (COW) according to district and vicariate which request it. Some areas do not need it because they do...
Why is it that flowers are no longer offered during the mass - during offertory procession and put at the Altar?
Why in some churches candles are at the altar and in others are not?What should be the proper place for the candles during the mass? How many candles?
The crufifix of the ceriales, where should it face, the congregation or to the priest?
The norms for the celebration of the mass in the Archdiocese of Cebu discourages the placement of flowers on the altar as well as candles so as not to take away from the central elements which are the Bread and the Chalice. It is also this same...

by Floreza Duque-Alpuerto
Some books are just for reading, some are worth for more pondering.Some movies are just for watching, some are worth contemplating.
What makes them similar? They entertain.
But what difference do they have? The lessons you can get.

That's why I pick the books I read and the movies I watch. And because I feel so delighted and enlightened with them, I always want to share my thoughts to others. So, here we are in this new stuff in our website, “Youth Treats.” First, reading a good book or watching a nice movie is surely a treat and second, it challenges you on how to treat the book or movie on what it is worth.
Featured “Youth Treat”
Letters to God is based on a true story of Tyler Doherty, an eight year old boy who sent letters addressed to God while battling cancer. After he died, his father wrote the story which was later adapted for screenplay.
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