A Year Spiritual Journey of the Youth

“Rooted and Built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith” (Col. 2:7). The Theme of the World Youth Day 2011 Madrid, is the foundation of a group here in Cebu – AVE.

AVE is a year-long youth formation program, a spiritual journey of full celebration, joy, and fellowship in search for what is good amd true. From August 2010 to August 2011 (every 2nd Sunday of the month) at St. John Centre, V-Rama, Cebu City, this group of young people aged 16 to 30 will experience formation - strengthening faith, community immersion, enhancing talents and skills and participating in a lot of activities. Furthermore, AVE is a preparation for the WYD 2011 Madrid - where some will undertake the pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain while others evangelize and celebrate World Youth Day here in Cebu.

How AVE came about?

AVE was founded last June 7, 2010 when a small group of young people, supported by St. John Brothers and Sisters, decided to meet, discuss and agree to have a year-long youth formation program here in Cebu for World Youth Day 2011 Madrid, Spain.

The group decided to have AVE (Hail) as a name, for we believe and acknowledge our dear Mother Mary as our constant guide and journey, just as she accompanied Jesus.

AVE is also inspired by Activ8 – a year-long formation for World Youth Day in Australia last 2008, initiated also by the Community of St. John.

AVE: Official Launching

About 50 AVE youth participants gathered for a day of faith, fun, adventure, discoveries and newfound friendship at St. John Priory, Banawa Hills last July 11. The launching program included orientation, Holy Mass celebration, talk, Rosary, Teambuilding Activities and Adoration. With the guidance of Fr. Justin Lee, Sr. Victoria Maria, and the whole Community of Brothers and Sisters of St. John, the launching programme was a great success despite the bad weather condition.

The participants are mostly high school and college students and young professionals who are willing to journey and serve GOD and community.

The energy, laughter, unfading love and dedicated spirit of these young people filled the whole- day launching ceremony.

FUTURE Activities

There are a lot of activities in store for the young people every second Sunday of the month, (next month- August 8, 2010) for one whole year at St. John Center in V-Rama, Cebu City

For more details: AVE has a Facebook group account- AVE (group). We invite all the young people to journey with us for this one-of-a-kind youth formation program. Let us journey together with prayers and oneness as we are “rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the Faith”.