04 Jul 2019
2019 is the Year of the Youth in the Catholic Church in the Philippines, and the Philippine Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has been continuing their wonderful work in youth ministry all over the country.
MSC Partners, the newsletter of the Philippine Province of the MSC, recently reported on the Year of the Youth, addressing the way in which this celebration “shows the church’s faith and confidence in young people”.
“Empowering youth to be in mission, they need to realize the fundamental truth that they are beloved and gifted; they are worthy and deserving of God’s love, they are meant to discover the dreams of God for the church and the world at large,” the MSC Partners editorial reads. “The words of George Bernard Shaw might add inspiration or enkindle the fire within them: ‘You see things, and you say “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?”’. Allowing and encouraging the youth to dream and discover their life purpose is one of the greatest achievements of the church. As dreamers of great things, they may be able to use their energy for changes desired by God.”
“Our youth need to be guided, nurtured, and cared for,” continues the MSC Partners editorial. “A recent survey conducted by UNICEF said that 80% of Filipino youth suffer some form of physical and psychological abuse. Now we are facing problems such as poverty, young people not attending school, suicide, emotional distress, mental disorder, distorted values, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and the like. These show that many young people are deeply wounded and broken. In this regard, the church has an important role in the psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing and well-being of the youth.”
“I consider the Church as my lifeguard, who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity.”
MSCs in the Philippines have long been devoted to the care of the younger members of their flock, promoting education and empowerment wherever possible. In this, the Year of the Youth, they continue to encourage, guide, and nurture through youth ministry in parishes across the country.
This guidance is invaluable to many. “Youths nowadays are very vulnerable,” says Clavel C. Campugan, Parish Youth Leader in San Roque Parish, Cordova, Cebu. “Thus, as a youth I consider myself as vulnerable too. Very susceptible to sadness, chaos, physical or emotional attack, and many other negative forces in the society, that made me drown into a sea of hopelessness. There are times that my faith weakens, especially when my mother died – the strongest and greatest storm I encountered in my whole life. But as a youth in Christ, I consider myself as well-protected – protected by our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ through the protection from the Church. In this regard, as a member of the Youth Ministry in our parish, I am saved from drowning deeply in this sea of hopelessness. Jesus uses the Church as an instrument to help me swim faster towards HOPE. Therefore, I consider the Church as my lifeguard who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity and guiding me to become a better person and to become the seed of HOPE for others. Since, I have experienced the fruit of guidance from the Church, I hope that the Church will not stop guarding and guiding youths who are like me.”
“Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things.”
Angelica Joyce P. Mananes, Parish Youth Leader in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bantug, agrees. “Pope Francis said, ‘Let the church always be a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven’ – the place that every young person is looking for. The church is unlike other people, who might love us at first, but if they notice something they don’t like, they can easily leave us. God’s love for us has no limit – he loves us wholeheartedly. Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things, because the church believes that young people in mission are BELOVED, GIFTED, EMPOWERED.”
In the Year of the Youth and beyond, MSC communities in the Philippines and across the world continue to encourage, guide, and promote the bright and brilliant youths in our parishes everywhere.
“So, in this special year of the youth, it is our prayer and hope that young people
may find meaning for their lives in their faith-life journey in mission,
as beloved, gifted, and empowered to bring the love of God to all.”
– Fr Bien Castil Jr, MSC
Read about the MSC 2019 World Youth Day Celebrations in Panama
