5th Catholic Traditional Pilgrimage in the Year of the Youth

September 21, 2019 was another walk to remember as a pilgrimage took place again for the 5th time and this year it begins from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bangkal to San Pedro Cathedral, Metropolitan of Davao.

Participated by youth pilgrims from different schools, together with the working committee of the Latin Mass Society of Davao and other members of the local Church, the 5th Catholic Traditional Pilgrimage was a success.

It started with a talk about the “Youth Today”, given by Rev. Fr. Rommel Anico of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol and followed by the imposition of brown scapulars by Rev. Fr. Rodel Lopez, OMI, from the Diocese of Cotabato.

The said walk is offered in celebration of the Year of the Youth, hence, the theme of this year’s pilgrimage is “Introibo ad altare Dei; ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam” from the Book of Psalms chapter 42 verse 4 which says in English, “I will go to the altar of God; the God who gives joy to my youth.”

Indeed it is in God, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we can find the true joy that we are all searching for — this is the core message during the homily of Rev. Fr. Joseph Skelton from the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol, who is the main celebrant of the Missa Solemnis as a culmination of the said pilgrimage. His deacon was Rev. Fr. Rodel Lopez, OMI and the sub-deacon is Rev. Fr. Rommel Anico.

The sacred walk was exhausting as other pilgrims may say but it was fulfilling because they got to experience one of the Church’s tradition in the modern day. As part of the youth sector, it is one of their ways to evangelize others that the spirit of sacrifice in physical manner is pleasing to God who had also suffered and sacrificed Himself for our sake; finally, it is a way to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. (Ecc 12:1)

Sub umbra Petri!