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."

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!

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.

After the successful 4th Archdiocesan Youth Congress in 2008, here is another Youth Meeting which is expected to respond to the most urgent need for an ongoing formation of our youth leaders reflecting and articulating the theme, "Cebu's Youth: Standing Firm in the Faith, Doing all our Work in Love for Life", the 5th Archdiocesan Youth Congress!

This aims to gather over 300 youth leaders of the Archdiocese of Cebu on November 25-27, 2011 at the Boy Scout Camp, Capitol Hills, Cebu City. A pool of experts and very competent speakers, both from CBCP and Cebu, are formed to expound the most pressing issue on Human Life. For more details, ask your District Youth Leaders or call COY Office at 253-0173. Cebu's Youth, for LIFE!

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.

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.

The youth ministry offices of the regions and of the dioceses and youth organizations may adapt this prayer to suit their local contexts.

Aside from overlapping with the start of the traditional Simbang Gabi, the dawn of the "CBCP Year of the Youth" also coincides with the arrival of the relics of St. John Bosco, considered as the father and teacher of the youth, in the country.

According to CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), this visit of St. John Bosco's relics is a most fitting way to launch the "CBCP Year of the Youth" as it "highlights the spirit of the saint who has offered his life for the young."

ECY Chairman and Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said ushering in the New Year as "CBCP Year of the Youth" will be a double celebration for the Filipino Church since it will also concur with the 25th founding anniversary of ECY on July.

Saturday June 19 saw the ground breaking of the long anticipated Youth Center of the Archdiocese of Cebu, initiated by the Commission of Youth (COY). The event marked the commencement of the construction which aims to provide venue or shelter for all developmental and spiritual activities for the youth, and will be the first of its kind in the Philippines.

Initiated by the Archdiocese of Cebu and led by His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal with Head of Commission of Youth Msgr. Arthur Navales. The site;s location is at P. Gomez St. right across Cebu Cathedral. Likewise present at the event were Fr. Espiritu, Msgr. Alesna, Fr. Mar Balili, Fr. Brian Brigoli, Nene Sta. Rita - TESDA Representative, Hermenia Cabahug - Head of DSWD-AVRC, Engr. Michael Lorenana - Contractor, Theresa Singco - Youth Links Administrator, Mario Marababol - Youth Links Corp. Sec., youth leaders and COY volunteers.