8th Regional Youth Day, A Success

by Mark Anthony D. Leyson

The young people of Western Visayas and Romblon gathered as one family in the 8th Regional Youth Day (RYD) 2013. It was held at San Carlos Auditorium, San Carlos City. Negros Occidental on April 15-18, 2013. The gathering reflected on the theme: Youth, People of Hope, One In Faith, Serving In Love Through Eucharist”.

The Regional Youth Day gathered the youth and youth ministers of Western Visayas and Romblon from the archdioceses of Capiz and Jaro, Iloilo and the dioceses of Antique, Bacolod, Kabangkalan, Kalibo, Romblon and San Carlos. The gathering offered the young people to celebrate and deepen their faith in God and youthfulness. It was a special moment of coming together as one body united in a journey towards intimacy with Christ.

RYD is also the way to respond and sustain the needs of the youth to foster solidarity and collaboration among them and youth ministers in the region. This gathering is done every two years which is started on October 27-29, 2000 at the Diocese of Bacolod.

It envisions to deepen youth understanding on the virtue of hope, faith, and love; appreciate the essence of the Eucharist as the central sacrament of the catholic church and the core of our public worship; and to renew their commitment as people of hope, one in faith, serving in love thru the Eucharist.

The four days activities highlighted with prayers and masses officiated by the different bishops from the different archdioceses and dioceses of Western Visayas together with some seminarians and congregated sisters.

Simultaneous activities were done such as caravan, parade, fellowship, animation or dancing and singing of praising songs, group sharing, workshop, penitential Taize, confession, and open forum and interaction among young people delegates from the different archdioceses and dioceses. 

Rev. Fr. Rafael Luis Clavel discussed Faith, Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Magpusao – Hope & Rev. Fr. Noel Sixon – Love.

Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Magpusao, Youth Director with Rev. Fr. Edwin Chio and Rev. Fr. Richie Sarabia led the delegates of the Diocese of Kalibo composed of youth coordinators and leaders from different parishes.

Travel from Kalibo to San Carlos City took 10-hours for the delegates to reach the beautiful and peaceful City of San Carlos. They were met with warm welcome, smile and generosity of its people that made the journey worthy, educational, and profitable.  /MP