Asian Youth Day calls youth to live the examples of martyrs

Asian Youth Day 2014 in South Korea calls young people to live the examples of the martyrs amidst temptations and anti-Christian values.

With the theme: “Asian Youth! Wake Up! The Glory of the Martyrs Shines on You”, the Asian Youth Day is an avenue for young people to get the courage to live bravely according to the Gospel values.

AYD wants the world to see the reality today about anti-Christian values which threatens young people, thereby becoming a new form of persecution to them.

“How can the youth deal with this new kind of persecution? It is time to knock in order to wake up the passion for the faith that lays down in the hearts of the young people,” is the challenge in the program for the five-day event from August 13 to 17.

The Archdiocese of Dae Jeon Korea  hosted the Asian Youth Day 2014, the birthplace of the first Korean priest and martyr, St. Andrew Kim Daegon. The Opening Mass was held in Solomoe Shrine in Dae Jeon.

The delegates were also allowed to discover the roots of their faith and how it was handed over to them not  only in Korea but also in other Asian countries during their session on the second day.

“It is a day to realize how many people sacrificed their lives so that we may receive the faith. Finally we will be guided to realize that the true roots of our faith are in the Cross of Christ,” states the program of activities.

Pope Francis is also set to meet the young people in Korea as part of his activities in time for the beatification of 124 martyrs.

Close to 2000 delegates were expected to attend from all over Asia. There are 97 delegates from the Philippines who participated in AYD including 21 priests and four bishops headed by Bishop of Bangued, Most Rev.  Leopoldo Jaucian, D.D. and CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth Chair, Most Rev. Joel Baylon, D.D.

There are 13 delegates from the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) Region including three from the Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati (DADITAMA) Ecclesiastical Subregion.

Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (DAYCA) Director, Fr. Leomel Puerto and Youth Coordinator, Rhoderick Hernandez are the two representatives from the Archdiocese of Davao.