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6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress

In the datebook of the youth in the Archdiocese of Cebu, March 23, 2013 is being marked for two essential motives: (1) feast day of San Pedro Calungsod for this year (2) 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress, both were significant to them for they are involved in it and it is for them mainly. The two bind as one in this special moment—The 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress on how to propagate the devotion of San Pedro Calungsod.

Two youth leaders from each parishes/organizations will serve as the congress men and women, from their vivid thoughts hoist the strong resolution. Two speakers gave an unfathomable feature on their own topic for the youth to reflect more clearly and achieve more dearly. To reveal, Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, PC elaborated the topic "San Pedro Calungsod and the New Evangelization" while Rev. Fr. Dondon Aquino on the other topic which is "Go and make disciples of all nations".

In God's assistance they were able to come up with great resolution that will essentially help all the people of the Archdiocese of Cebu not just for the youth, to propagate the devotion of our very own San Pedro Calungsod in one way or another, little or big, in words or in actions, and in all instances of our lives, we may be poor or rich, young or old, as long as we worship the same God.

Herewith is the resolution that ascends from the young minds that have gathered in this 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress:

28TH LOCAL WORLD YOUTH DAY

Enthused by the virtues of our very own San Pedro Calungsod, the 28th Local World Youth Day (LWYD) has came to victory for the better honor and glory of God, last March 21-24,2013, three days and three nights of stay in Liloan—this year’s host for the said event. The third day made it inimitable from the past LWYDs, why? Because the appeal of our beloved bishop, Jose S. Palma was made to authenticity, to have a youth congress for the propagation of San Pedro Calungsod devotion—the 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress.

The Commission on Youth, Archdiocese of Cebu salutes the 28th LWYD organizing committee for the triumph of the event. It is the delight of the municipality of Liloan to host such prominent event in the existence of the youth, It is an enormous achievement too for the young organizers that in their formative years they have brought and built-up Christ in the hearts and lives of their fellow youth in the Archdiocese of Cebu.

The “fruit of success” they reap from the “seed of sacrifice” they sow is a brilliant thought that we can say to them and which they can give away to the next host of LWYD—a get-together of thousand youth in Cebu sharing faith in one Lord, worshipping the same God, living in the same shelter of God’s grace and discovering diverse experiences of spiritual union that leads to the same goal and mission—to holiness.

To all, who in one way or another have contributed a lot in the 28th LWYD, to the youth who joined and to them who haven’t experience such, because of Christ our Lord, we can dare to say “Basta Batan-on, We are One!”

CBCP Easter Message - The Risen Lord, source of our future resurrection

My dear brothers and sisters, we should rejoice and be glad because “the resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross. (CCC 638)

Our Lord Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead! Alleluia! Let us rejoice and be glad!

We should rejoice and be glad because “the Resurrection constitutes the confirmation of all Christ’s works and teachings”. (CCC 651) We have a sure foundation of our religion.

Homily of Mass of Inauguration for Pope Francis

I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the Inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. It is a significant coincidence, and it is also the name-day of my venerable predecessor: we are close to him with our prayers, full of affection and gratitude.

I offer a warm greeting to my brother cardinals and bishops, the priests, deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful. I thank the representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial Communities, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the other religious communities, for their presence. My cordial greetings go to the Heads of State and Government, the members of the official Delegations from many countries throughout the world, and the Diplomatic Corps.

In the Gospel, we heard that “Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife” (Mt 1:24). These words already point to the mission which God entrusts to Joseph: he is to be the custos, the protector. The protector of whom? Of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then extended to the Church, as Blessed John Paul II pointed out: “Just as Saint Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing, he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model” (Redemptoris Custos, 1).

ECY releases updated module of Youth for HOPE

MANILA, March 11, 2013—Modules of Youth for HOPE or Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections which was released last 2001 was updated this year in time with the upcoming 2013 midterm elections in May.

Prepared by the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) few elections back as a concrete response to the need to form young people in social awareness and involvement, and as a particular tool to aid the youth ministries, the module has been revised to make it more relevant and ready for use by youth ministers with the young people.

Titled “Kabataang Bayani: Youth for HOPE”, the module is a concrete action for the young people to know how to exercise their right to suffrage.

According to ECY, this formation program aims to bring out the “hero” that is in each young person, believing that young people have the power to effect change, especially in our society, and that they are indeed the hope for a better world.

World Youth Day Rio 2013

The COY-CEBU Delegation Secretariat for the World Youth Day 2013 is still accepting pilgrim - applicants for the world's largest gathering. This year's World Youth Day will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 23-28, 2013.

For interested individuals, feel free to join the weekly meeting every Tuesday, 7pm at the Archdiocesan Youth Center, Cebu City or call 09328771096 for details

Video: Barkada Ni Pedro

This video features the “Barkada ni Pedro,” also known as BNP, an online prayer community dedicated for Blessed Pedro Calungsod, who will be canonized later today, October 21, 2012.

BNP aims to create a wider scope of prayer community worldwide using the social networking site Facebook. The group was formed by the Commission on Youth (COY) to spread information about Calungsod’s life, martyrdom, and his elevation to sainthood.

The group also aims to provide a sense of belongingness to the youth in a way that its member prays for others. Common petitions that the group offer during Friday’s mass at the Archdiocesan Youth Center are about health, work, relationships, family, studies, and employment.

Watch this multimedia report produced by Team PROBee of Sun.Star website for more information about the group:

A Holy Weekend Experience with Blessed Pedro

While everyone is anticipating with great joy and thanksgiving the October 21 Canonization of the seven holy men and women including Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a Visayan martyr, the Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Cebu is initiating a program, entitled “Blessed Pedro’s Weekend Experience.”

This program comes in the form of modules, especially designed to give our young people the opportunity to know our ‘young saint’ through these chapel and parish modules. These modules carry with them the Endorsement Letter of Msgr. Ildebrando Jesus A. Leyson, Vice Postulator of the Canonization of Bld. Pedro, encouraging the parishes to ‘warmly welcome’ the initiative of the COY volunteers. Further he writes in the letter, “I have examined the modules and found them very helpful.”

In this regard, our COY volunteers are more than willing to help facilitate in the implementation of the modules both in the chapel and parish levels. You just have to call our COY office, 253-0173 / 520-5234, for arrangement and scheduling.

Don’t miss this chance of knowing more our ‘katagi-lungsod’ and his virtues through this 'holy weekend experience!'

Barkada ni Pedro

How is it possible in a world full of social networks, that people still feel alone, lost in their worries and concerns, alone in their happiness, and lost in their battles. We are fortunate that we have people around us that pray for us, that are worried about us; but how about those people who do not have people to pray for them, those who do not have people they can call their “prayer godfather”.

So we are wondering how we can make this situation a little better. What if we will create a place where people who need someone to pray for them can meet people who want to pray for other’s prayers?

Based from ‘mayfeelings.com’, the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Youth found a perfect place where this meeting could be possible in this world full of the social network, and we called it ‘BARKADA NI PEDRO’. Why BARKADA? In a ‘barkada’ you will find a sense of belongingness, where you can find people to inspire, affirm & help you, not only in times of happiness but also during loneliness. Why PEDRO? This is in honor of our very own ‘katagilungsod’ Beato Pedro Calungsod, who will soon be part of the canon of saints – a great intercessor of our prayers to God. Therefore, the ‘BARKADA NI PEDRO’ aims to form a praying and affirming community through the inspiration & intercession of Beato Pedro Calungsod.