Young people need to sit down and talk

On to the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines

The Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate – Education Ministry (DAYCA) organized the “Youth Forum” as mandated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) last August 28, 2017 at the Social Hall of the San Pedro Cathedral. It was attended by 31 young people representing various parishes.

The forum was facilitated by DAYCA Education Head Ms. Jay Ann Peteros along with the ministry members.

The said orientation gathered young people who were given the instruction on how to bring back their fellow youth to where they should belong — to a Christian community or to their respective parish or Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK). Specifically, the Forum served as a way in leading them to encounter Christ through the Eucharist and prayer, awakening their faith through inspiring testimonies, sharing ideas with their fellow youth, and committing themselves to genuinely live their Catholic faith in their present realities.

The event started with a Getting-to-Know-You activity then the orientation proper. After the orientation, the facilitator gave the participants time for a workshop where they demonstrated a “mini-forum” dramatizing how they will conduct it in their own parishes.

There are three (3) segments that must be followed, according to her, “such as the Faith Witnessing (testimonies of invited speakers), Faith Sharing, and the Call to Action (to invite inactive youth).”

The youth leaders and formators were encouraged to make this forum possible in their respective parishes and in GKKs. “Nanghinaut ko nga kini dili lamang sa mga batan-ong aktibo sa Simbahan apan sa tanang kabatan-onan sa nagkalain-laing youth groups sa Dakbayan sa Dabaw. Ug sa pipila ka bulan, among makita nga namunga pinaagi sa pagdaghan sa batan-on na muaktibo sa simbahan,” said Jay Ann Peteros.

The Youth Forum will be intensified to its youth ministry network in local areas here in Davao as an activity for the youth helping them prepare themselves for the 500th year of Christianization.

“The youth forum simple, yet comprehensive. The demonstration part of the program was very exciting. We were able to express our thoughts and ideas to actualize it to our respective parishes. This shows revival of youth participation to church activities,” said Trisha Louise Pondias, youth coordinator of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Talomo.

Topics of the Forum can vary in line with the yearly theme set by the CBCP and basing on the current needs of the youth in the locality. Since the call to action is given importance, youth leaders and formators will do the monitoring of the implementation and reporting to DAYCA and ECY.

Ms. Jonalen Asares, a youth coordinator at St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish, Buhangin added, “I’m happy to see that the youth are given much attention to join in the preparation of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. I’m hoping that the number of young people will increase in answering the call to serve through this Youth Forum, and to actively participate in the church.”

YOUTH SITUATIONER

The young people of Davao City are pressed with present and difficult challenges.

As shown in a recent study conducted last March this year by the University of Mindanao, young people aged 13-24 engage themselves in smoking, drinking and pre-marital sex: 4 out of 10 smoke cigarettes, 5 out of 10 drink, and 23 out of 50 are engaged in sex.

Most of them said that they are influenced by their friends. It was concluded that alcoholic drinks are most accessible to them that resulted to getting drunk and the potential to be part of sexual activities.

These realities, when discussed by the courageous young leaders of the church of Davao may lead to positive effects.

As the Church in the Philippines proceeds with her nine-year journey, this year as the Year of the Parish, the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) journeys with her, and continues to participate in her mission of evangelization, fully convinced that evangelization of our youth is urgent and crucial, indeed a priority pastoral task (cf. CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on the Era of New Evangelization).

The Youth Forum is encouraged to continue until year 2021, the 5th centenary of coming of Christianity in our country. It was first introduced during the CBCP-Year of the Youth on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary in 2011. (Gie Rhea Jadulco)