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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.

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.

Consistory 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.

Logo for Pedro Calungsod Canonization

1. Uniqueness
   - Face of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in contemporary art form
2. Timelessness (Memorable)
   - Classic circular shape and design
3. Adaptability
   - Can be reduced without losing essential elements
4. Scalability
   - Can be reduced without losing essential elements
5. 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."

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!

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.

1. Parishes that have Mary as Patroness or Secondary Patroness are declared as Pilgrim Centers on October 7, 2011 till May 31, 2012.
2. All Marian organizations and movements are to be grouped as Parish Council of Marian Devotions.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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.

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.