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.