We would like to share this video with you :)

Many thanks to Fr. Peng Reyes, MJ for the lyrics, Mr. Benjie Edejer of the Harmonic Choir for the music, Jeaneath Ricemilla for the interpretation and Mr. Rommel Faeldog for the video.

Song Title : A Prayer for Healing
Album: The Silver Beat



http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2526505196330

10th Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference Youth Congress

The MSPC - YC 10 Logo Design by Ivan Eric Salvador from the Archdiocese of Zamboanga

The 10th Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference Youth Congress is slated to take place on February 25 - March 1, 2013 in the Diocese of Ipil. 

The Congress' theme, "Our Faith, Our Mission towards Evangelization: A Challenge for MSPC Youth", draws inspiration from the celebration of the Year of Faith. 

We are thankful to the our generous hosts, Most Rev. Julius S. Tonel, the bishop of the Diocese of Ipil,and the Diocesan Youth Apostolate of Ipil led by Fr. Rotchel San Diego, for willingly taking up the daunting challenge of hosting the Congress. Daghang salamat!

MSPC-YC’S 6th Annual Youth Directors and Coordinators Forum MJ OLEA, Animation Ministry head, DAYCA “Dear young people, the Church depends on you. She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates, and gives new energy to the Church..”-Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day 2011 The Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference Youth Secretariate (MSPC-YS) conducted it’s 6th Annual Youth Directors and Coordinators Forum, last march 14-16, 2012 at Chali Beach Resort and Convention Center, hosted by the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro. Fifteen (15) Dioceses represented by their Youth Directors, Leaders, and Coordinators out of 21 ecclesiastical territories of the Mindanao-Sulu have attended the said forum together with the MSPC-Youth, Bishop-in-Charge, Most.Rev. Elenito Galido, DD. The objectives of the gathering is to present and finalize the modules that can be utilized in the formation of the Mindanao-Sulu youth; to share experiences in the respective archdiocese, dioceses, prelature, and vicariate; to enhance awareness on environmental concerns and issues; and to strengthen belongingness among the youth ministers in the spirit of communion and solidarity. The forum was filled with information, concerns, and issues in social and spiritual aspect of the ministry and within the community. Architect Marie Borromeo Cancio, speaks light about the Total Consecration during this Year of the Faith in the Philippines and in the World. The Year of the Faith summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord. Total Consecration is a total surrender of oneself to Jesus through Mary, as a holy slave of love, and striving to perform all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary. Why through Mary? Because She is the perfect model of faith and love, for the devil has never and had nor ever will have any access to Mary, the Holy and Immaculate Virgin. Ms. Cancio also expresses that Mindanao shall be the center of the faith, peace, and love, but first it must start within ourselves and that God is concerned especially to the youth. As one of God’s message foretold: “My Filipino people, you will be an instrument of trasnsformation and the different nations shall come back to me.” We truly are blessed for God loves Philippines so much. Subsequently, a talk on Climate change and Why disasters happen with focus on extreme weather events were delivered by Engr. Dexter Lo. He illustrated geographical maps as to what happen during the typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro. Engr. Lo explains that disaster risk is a complex interplay of several factors: Hazard(strength & frequency), Exposure(exposed population density, and Vulnerability (structural physical socio-economic profile). An updating/reporting per sub-region, and the BANGKA presentation( A Formation Module designed for the Mindanao-Sulu Youth) was set after. For the concluding day, the participants had an area exposure to Xavier-Ecoville resettlement site owned by Xavier University(Ateneo de Cagayan, who generously donated a 5-hectare of land, wherein the Sendong victims were safely situated. With the help of Xavier University, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and other civic-oriented communities, the medical mission and relief operation continues. They’ve also provided psycho-spiritual (Holy Mass) and psycho-social counseling for the victims. Some of the topics that has been given are quite deep and prophetic to understand in co-relating the occurrence of natural calamities and other forms of unprecedented events. Disaster preparedness is very important, but most of all disaster prevention is the primary concern. We must think of a strong foundation, and all else will follow as we start the change within ourselves…and as we live in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES…let us therefore be vigilant and consecrate ourselves, the Mindanao totally to Jesus through Mary.

Youth Minister: A vocation, a gift!

Jay Marlo P. Huraño
Youth Coordinator
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Davao City

Last Tuesday, July 12, 2011, I attended the mass because there was something that kept on bothering me and it’s related to the youth ministry. Every time I have a problem whether it’s small or big, I see to it that I can attend the mass despite thehectic schedule just to offer my problems and worries to the Lord. I know I can stand firm in the faith despite of the many challenges that I face and I can still continue serving the youth out of selfless love. The Gospel for that day was taken from Matthew 11:20-24 and it says, “Come to me all you who labor and I will give you rest”. From that, I grabbed the chance to be in the retreat to be with the Lord and other youth ministers even though I am having my nursing review every weekend.

Our retreat master was Bishop Pol Jaucian, SVD, DD, Bishop of Bangued-Abra was one of the CBCP ECY Bishops. He shared to us his personal insights and experiences as we reflected together on the theme for the year of the youth, “Stand firm in the faith, do all your work in love”( Corinthians 16:13-14). The theme was divided into three parts: Awareness of self as a minister, stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong, and do all your work in love.

Awareness of self as a minister
As youth ministers, we need to be aware of our youth ministry, and to share it with others. There were two points that struck me during this session. First, Bp. Pol said to us that, “not only Jose Rizal said this to you that you are the hope of the nation. We as a nation also believe that you are the hope of the church.” And second, one of my group mates revealed to us her favorite verse taken from John 15:16 which says, “You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.” This is the gospel text that keeps her passion always burning for the youth despite of hardships in life.

Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong!
Despite of the many challenges that we encounter as youth minister in our different dioceses, we need to be stand firm in our faith for us to be courageous and strong. On the positive note, problems are just challenges from God to test our faith to Him and specifically to draw us closer to Him. My most striking or significant encounter with God was when I first entered the youth ministry of the parish. I consider it as a gift from God. And in addition, Bp. Pol said to us that, “The love of Jesus is calling us to be a youth minister to serve the youth. The love of God is a vocation to serve Him. It is our vocation as youth minister.”

Do all your work in love
This session was a nerve breaking session. The statement “Do you love me? Follow me.”, challenges all of us. We love Jesus by serving the youth by sharing our talents, treasures, and time. We sacrifice everything out of love for the youth ministry and sometimes we ask God, “is it not enough to express my love for You by serving the youth and the church?” Love has many forms and norms. All I can say to this is do all your work in love despite the challenges that we face every day.

DADITAMA YOUTH MINISTERS RETREAT HELD IN DAVAO CITY

By: Marjorie Joy Olea
DAYCA Davao

“You young men and women are the hope of our church.”

A simple yet meaningful line from the retreat master, Most Rev. Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD,DD from Bangued, Abra during the Regional Retreat for youth ministers of DADITAMA Region last July 15-17,2011 at Benedictine Retreat House Ulas, Davao City.
The said retreat was organized by the MSPC-YS Staff together with the Youth Directors Rev.Fr. Leif Simbajon of Davao, Rev.Fr.Rex Tapales of Digos, and Rev. Fr.Levi Mantica of Tagum. The objectives of the regional retreat were the following: for the youth ministers to engage in dialogue, and embark on a spiritual journey together; to deepen their relationship in the faith and in the ministry; and to intensify their commitment in serving the youth in their respective contexts. The retreat was divided into three sessions:

*”Be on guard…Be vigilant” –reflected on the awareness of personality as a youth minister and the reality in the ministry.
*”Stand firm in your faith” – shares about the status of the faith of the young, and what really sustains in the ministry.
*”Do all your work in love” – finding of oneself now. How the youth ministers express or manifest their love for God in the youth ministry with the theme: “PAGLINGON, PAGDIRIWANG,PAGTANAW.”

The youth ministers with their respective directors shared reflections in an honest-to-goodness way on what was happening with their respective ministries, dioceses, parishes, schools, and organizations and how do they felt about it. They responded that they encountered related situations like being inactive of the members, more time for civic and no-time for religious activities, lack of support from the leaders, and priests, conflicts within the apostolate, and some critical issues among others.

Bishop Jaucian also declared that in the CBCP Pastoral Letter “Bishops have optional preference for the youth…”stating their support for the young. He also explained that our unity with one another is our strength, each and every member of the youth, be it small or has a big role is important. Love is a vocation through our service in the youth, and only prayer and faith can heal all wounds of conflicts and hardships that are at hand in the ministry. As Bp.Pol also shared a part of his childhood, and priesthood, and being tagged as one of the ”Pajero Bishops”, he emphasized that amidst of the storms in life, it is God who lifts us up showing His great love for us.

On the concluding day, the youth ministers were requested to make a list of activities as to what immediate steps, long-term plans, and resolutions that can be possibly done after the retreat. The plan was designed into a Bangka (boat) from the concept of the MSPC-YC Programs. Below is the Bangka components with the corresponding programs:

Bosay- General Orientation
Layag-Peace
Katig-Bible/Gospel
Pukot- Net of Spirituality
Bugsay-Leadership
Banyera-GKK
Balod-Social Issues

The youth ministers were given a copy of pastoral recommendations from the Bishops Workshop last January 2011. The components were in the form of evangelization, catechesis, fellowship, social actions, leadership and worship for a more collaborative and comprehensive youth ministry.

For the final assert, Bp. Pol left an encouraging quote during his homily…”Be like a lighthouse, shine on! Continue to inspire others for we are all agents of unity and community.”
We are all shaped to serve God. May we use our God-given talents in the ministry for His greater glory, so that we may revive the young people of our generation, and lead them back to the House of the Lord.

MSPC-YS conducted Relief Operation and Feeding Program

It was June 28,2011 at 11 p.m., almost 3 hours of heavy rains poured in the city of Davao which had caused rivers to overflow particularly Talomo river and flash floods came which was up to 10 meters high. Villages affected were Matina Crossing, Balusong, NHA Bangkal and Matina Pangi. Consequently, there were 13,000 families affected with 31 dead mostly children and old ones and a total of 649 houses were washed out.

Responding to the said unpredicted calamity, the MSPC-YS initiated relief operation for two times in Km. 8, Matina Pangi. Many agencies and generous people responded to the MSPC-YS’ call for assistance intended for the flash flood victims in said villages and became partners for relief operation. Used clothes, mat, blankets, kitchen utensils, groceries and sacks of rice were distributed to the village.

Meanwhile, the feeding program was conducted by the MSPC-YS last Aug.6,2011. Recipients to the said programs were 60 graders in Matina Pangi who were victims of flash floods. Presently, they are students under the Children’s Catechesis, an on-going program of the GKK San Isidro Labrador. I Chef School in Davao City co-sponsored the feeding program. After the children were fed with lugaw and drank milk, a parlor game was held. The said program successfully ended with the children’s drawing activity where they freely expressed their gratitude to the assistance given to them. Distribution of goods and school supplies was done.