Liloan hosts 2 religious events for the youth

CEBU, Philippines - Two major religious youth activities will be hosted by the municipality of Liloan from March 21 to 24, through the San Fernando El Rey Parish and the District 7 Youth Coordinating Council.

Hundreds of young people from the Archdiocese of Cebu and even from the diocese under the Central and Eastern Visayas regions are expected to converge for the celebration of the 28th Local World Youth Day on March 21 to 24 at Liloan, Cebu.

Aside from the Local World Youth Day gathering, organizers will also hold the 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress on March 23 at the Panphil Frasco Gymnasium.

The local gathering is a continuing journey of the young people of Cebu after the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod last year, according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

The Archdiocese’s Commission on Youth wanted not only to reflect on the yearly international gathering which is the World Youth Day, but also to continue the thrust of St. Pedro Calungsod.

The 6th Archdiocesan Youth Congress, on the other hand, is a response to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma’s challenge to the young people to continue to uphold Calungsod in a youthful way.

During the congress, the young leaders will try to implement resolutions on how to continue promote and exercise Calungsod’s virtues to the young people.

Palma will give the keynote speech while Msgr. Arthur Navales, chairman of the Cebu Diocesan Youth Coordinating Council will give the welcome message.

Other speakers of the congress are Fr. Dondon Aquino who will discuss on the topic “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations” and Msgr. Dennis Villarojo who will talk about San Pedro Calungsod and the New Evangelization.

A dialogue between Palma and the young people on different issues of the day, will be one of the highlights of the congress.  Palma will celebrate the culminating Mass on Palm Sunday at 4:30 a.m.

Other activities of the three-day gathering include catechesis, Via Crucis, Taize prayer with confession, talks, workshops, pilgrim walk, holy hour and youth jam.

The organizers, in a press statement, believe the two local gatherings will be an effective way to articulate the role of the young in the Church, while enhancing the camaraderie and friendships among the youth with their slogan “Basta Batan-on! We Are One!”  (FREEMAN)