CBCP Prexy surprised youth campers

SASA, DAVAO CITY — An atmosphere of celebration and youthfulness filled the Fr. Godbout Center of the St. Joseph The Worker Parish (SJTWP) as the Parish Youth Apostolate (PYA) held its Youth Camp 2O18 with a theme taken from the gospel of St. Mark 1O:49 “Take Courage, Stand Up, He is Calling You”, on June 1O-12.

The stage was colorful and the 120 delegates from the eight (8) zones and center organizations filled the venue with loud cheers and yells as they enjoyed with dancing and laughter amid loud music.

Ramel Pamplona, Parish Youth Coordinator said: “I did not expect that we could have this large number of participants in this camp, what I anticipated was just around 5O to 6O only.”

It started with a prayer and the introduction of the core group, committees and zone coordinators through a video presentation followed by the orientation of the rules and regulations in the camp.

“The Parish Youth Apostolate held the youth camp after three years to again enable the youth of the parish to gather and celebrate the goodness of the Lord. The camp will enhance their leadership without compromising the spiritual aspect of their being same as well as to earn new friends and leagues. The main objective of which is to let them live out the theme of this year’s gathering,” Pamplona added.

Bro. Michael Ondras, a REMASE graduate, gave the first talk on the second day while Bro. Errol James Santos, a DAYCA staff, discussed the second talk right after lunch.

The delegates were divided into 5 groups bearing the names of Korea, Japan, Thailand, South Africa and Philippines to perform a cultural presentation of their chosen country. An ambassador and ambassadress was chosen to represent their group for Parish Youth Camp 2O18.

Korea performed an evolution of the Korean dances while Thailand showed a thousand hands dance and South Africa wowed the audience with their tribal dance while a Muslim dance was presented by the Philippines. The parade of saints was cosplayed by the candidates of the ambassadors and ambassadress of the camp.

Peace and calmness followed as the guitars were strummed, voices of angels heard and prayers were sang as the Youth For Christ (YFC) led the praise and worship for the goodness of the Lord. The second day was closed by the PYA Coordinator thanking the campers in being productive and creative and making the sociocultural night an exemplary one.

On the third day, campers attended the first mass of the new parish priest Fr. Leonardo Dublan, Jr. as he celebrated his birthday at 6:00 AM. Right after the mass, the youth went back to the venue for their breakfast, surprised by the visit of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD, Archbishop of Davao.

Pamplona said that, “the unexpected visit of our beloved Archbishop, and of our new Parish Priest, Fr. Bong Dublan, overwhelmed our hearts with joy and love knowing that they have very hectic schedules. Witnessing the astonishment of the two is very overwhelming and something to be proud of.”

Campers changed gears as the amazing race, facilatated by Vynce Desquetado, was about to start. Ten teams of different colors ran over here and there to surpass the different obstacles, with a flour on their face, mud on their body amid smiles for friends found. Next to being wet and wild during the race, a barrio fiesta proceeded, intermissions were presented and also the awarding of winners during the sociocultural night and some special awards were awarded to the participants.

Parish Youth Adviser, Angelo Espinas, said that, “the youth camp serves as, again, a stepping stone for our youth in the parish, St. Joseph the Worker, to awaken their unconscious minds that being in the Church, to serve in the Church, and to be with the community of the Church allows them to discover their very identity from Christ. That every youth becomes an ever closer friend and lover of Jesus Christ with their whole existence. And everything that they do is done in his name—Jesus Christ.” (Khim Jimenez, SJTWPYA media)