Don Bosco Philippines, South (FIS), Zamboanga City, November 6-10, 2017.
Young people all over the Philippines gathered again after two years in the National Youth Day (NYD) last Nov. 6-10, 2017 in Zamboanga City with the theme, “The Lord has done great things for me, holy is His name” (Lk 1:49). The Salesian Youth Movement (SDB) FIS sent 24 delegates and FIN has 18 mostly coming from the school and parish settings.
Being blessed is a call, a call to make difference not just themselves (young people) but to others. To answer God’s call is really challenging because they must be ready to face all circumstances, problems and difficulties. But it never hinders the young people to continue spreading God’s goodness and to strengthen the faith even more.
To answer God’s challenge each individuals can be light to the darkness, a light that shines to other people to inspire and be a good role model in leading them more close to Him; “We are blessed because of Him!”
National Youth Day 2017 in numbers:
- 2,300 youth pilgrims
- 700 volunteers
- 100 priests and bishops
- 5 days
The last day of the NYD was a sent-off mass celebrated by Cotobato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI and the central message to his homily is a challenge to the youth participants when he said, “No one can make a difference in this world unless God gives him the ability to do so.” The next NYD 2019 will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Cebu and it will coincide with the CBCP’s year of the youth.
(Contributor: Daryl Torreon)