YASFAP Summer Youth Camp 2023

Davao City, Philippines – The Youth Apostolate of St. Francis of Assisi Parish (YASFAP) returned to St. Francis Xavier College Seminary in Catalunan Grande for this year’s yearly Summer Youth Camp. The camp was a three-day activity which took place from Friday, June 23, to Sunday, June 25, 2023. A total of 222 young individuals have participated in this year’s camping trip. Apart from the participants from the 43 GKKs that made up the 12 zones, the parish invited boys from Boystown to participate in the camp.

On the first day, everyone arrived at the camping ground by noon and immediately began setting up their campsites and prepared for the opening ceremony which happened in the gym later that night. As the opening spiels were happening, heavy rains began to pour causing sudden distress among participants as they scrambled to gather their belongings from their sites.

As rain got heavier, the opening program was abruptly canceled, and instructions were given to the campers to evacuate to the campus recreational halls. By the night’s end, everyone was exhausted, with most participants drenched by the heavy rain.

Despite the unfortunate circumstance the night before, everyone was settled the next day, and the camp continued. The participants felt calm as the day began with the holy rosary. After breakfast, everyone was assigned to their respective talk and workshop sessions for the morning, handled by esteemed professionals. There were three sessions: Social Media in the Era of Evangelization by Mr. Ryan Keath De Leon, Mental Health Matters by Ms. Dennesse Joy Gabrielle Malilong, and Leadership and Social Involvement by Bro. Lunar Tan Fayloga. After lunch, a vocational talk was given by Rev. Fr. Ronald Arcillas to everyone in attendance.

By nightfall, the cheers and yells competition began—a grand display of each zone’s power and dominance. Afterward, the main event of the evening, the social night program, commenced—a showcase that exhibited every youth’s creativity and inventiveness through performing arts such as theater and dance. Members of the parish came to visit the seminary to witness the performances and show support to their respective youth members. After some deliberation from the judges, awards were given to the zones with most outstanding performances—recognition for their dedication and hard work. To officially conclude the program, the youth received closing remarks from the parish priest, Rev. Msgr. Paul Cuison, expressing his delight for the youth and their performance for the night. The night was completed with a praise and worship session.

At sunrise on the last day, everyone gathered in the seminary’s chapel to pray and sing the chaplet of Divine Mercy. A Holy Mass soon followed with parish priest Rev. Msgr. Paul Cuison being the presider, and assistant parish priest, Rev. Fr. Ranabe Magallanes concelebrating. During the homily, Msgr. Cuison mentioned the significance of the phrase “Do not be afraid.” He said, “Do not be afraid to open your life, your heart, your soul to Jesus because Jesus can only bring us to freedom—because Jesus can only bring us our true happiness and true joy.” After the Holy Mass, a sending-forth ceremony was held for all the active YASFAP Core Group members. To conclude the final day of this year’s youth camp, the last set of awards and certificates were given, and everyone celebrated through a fellowship feast alongside their respective zones.

With the theme: “ONWARD: Youth’s Quest Into a Dazzling Journey,” the activity served as a religious-learning experience catered to the youth through educational talks and workshops, collaborative exercises, spiritual practices, and all-around engaging fun. (Alessandro Rikardo V. Millabe | St. Francis of Assisi Parish Ma-a SoCCom)