VISIT to the PHILIPPINES

1. ENCOUNTERS IN CEBU

On April 21, Wednesday, Fr. Pedro Castillo arrived Cebu, before going to Manila for the First Asian Encounter organized by the "Children of Mary." This visit has been almost obligatory as two members of the International team came from this Island. He was met at the airport by Ana Maria Escaño, member of the International Council, and proceeded to "Asilo Milagrosa" of the Daughters of Charity where he was to stay during his visit. That evening, he had dinner with the family of Ana Maria.

On Thursday, the 22nd, after having breakfast with the Sisters,  he went to the "Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion" school where he did a sharing with the Daughters of Charity of the nearby communities at 10:30 in the morning.  Through a short power point presentation, he invited them to listen to the plea of the young people for each of them to intensify their prayer and community life, service for the poor and on-going formation. It's from there that they may offer adequate youth pastoral formation. The Sisters participated actively and enthusiastically.

Then, from 1-5 pm Fr. Pedro and Ana Maria met with the Archdiocesan Council of the CoM (Children of Mary) still at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion school wherein this Association started since 1905. After a beautiful welcome with the "Sinulog" dance, the youth offered him a precious image of the "Sto. Niño de Cebu" (Holy Child Jesus), a bouquet of flowers and a lei of seashells. They presented the history of the Association in the Dioceses: past, present and future. It was impressive to discover the vitality of JMV in Mindanao and Visayas. In Mindanao alone, there are more than 10,000 active members and in Cebu about 8,000. These two regions comprise 60% of the JMV excluding Luzon (Manila and other cities/ provinces) and other Visayan Islands. Ninety-five percent of the local units are based in the parishes of the diocese with the parish priests as spiritual directors. They are working strongly with the young people of little resources and the more problematic ones (drug addicts for example.) They also have developed different sub-levels within the Association to cater to the young people from diverse groups: Marian Youth, Marian Homes and Marian Friends (professional group.)

Fr. Pedro and Ana Maria talked briefly about the progress of the JMV in the International: member countries, number of members, work of the International Council and Secretariat and projects for the near future. The major request of the groups is formation of leaders and better communication with the National and International Council. Fr. Pedro invited the group to visit the JMV web site frequently, live strongly their commitments within the parishes without losing identity of the Association: love for Mary, evangelization and formation of the youth, and service to the poor. After the picture-taking, they had an agape, celebrated the Eucharist and visited the archdiocesan office.

The morning after, Fr. Pedro is scheduled to go to "San Roque Parish" in Subangdaku to visit the Vincentian Missionaries working there like Fr. Rani Mahumot and Fr. Rowell Consolacion. Then, he will meet with Msgr. Oscar Villamor, Archdiocesan Vicar-General and will have lunch with the family of Pamela Mantuhac, a member of the International Secretariat. In the afternoon, he will preside the Eucharistic Celebration at the Cebu Casino Español.

Then, on Saturday, he and Ana Maria will go to Manila to welcome the delegates of the JMV Asian Encounter (some 40 participants from six countries- Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam and India) and afterwards join the Summer Youth Camp with some 200 young people.

2. NATIONAL YOUTH CAMP OF CoM-JMV LEADERS IN CALERUEGA, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES ON April 29 –May 1, 2004.

After a long trip though beautiful hills and mountains, passing through the picturesque Taal Lake and Volcano in Tagaytay, the participants coming from different regions of the Philippines reached Caleruega.  All the youth leaders, animators, advisors and directors were filled with enthusiasm and desire to learn more.   The encounter was held at a Dominican Retreat House, situated beautifully among mountains. The afternoon of April 29 was spent for the presentation of the different groups, general orientation and house rules and the program of the activity.

The participants from the different regions were as follows:

The youth camp was attended by a total of 20 Daughters of Charity, one Carmelite sister, four Vincentian Missionaries and 115 lay people.  The first day started with the Morning Prayers. The conferences followed right after breakfast. The CM Visitor of the Philippine Province, Fr. Marcelo Manimtim,CM gave the first talk about the general theme, “SHARED DISCIPLESHIP TOWARDS SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION."  He developed the significance of being a disciple in a simple yet profound manner.  Then, Sr. Marta Gamulo,DC , Vocational Pastoral Coordinator, shared her views of the same theme from the biblical perspective.  Nikki Biones, CoM-JMV member and Political Science –Economics professor of the La Salle University –Manila, enlightened the group with a convincingly simple presentation of our social responsibility in the globalized world. The last speaker was Ana Maria Escaño who led the group to focus on the theme of Role and Responsibility of the JMV in the globalized world. The day ended with a Concelebrated Eucharistic Celebration at the chapel to commemorate the Transfiguration of the Lord.

After dinner was the official opening ceremony of the camping activities whose objectives were to develop a sense of responsibility and leadership among the young people, strengthen group relationship and the capacity to work as a team. 

The next two days were filled with various interesting yet educational activities that provided an avenue for the participants to develop their potentials and talents. These were brought about by the well-prepared community prayers to start the day’s activities and the concelebrated mass, animated and prepared by different regions, and recap of the day’s activities and experiences with a beautiful song of thanksgiving.   

On the evening of the 30th (Friday) the participants for each region did cultural presentations (theatre, dances, songs, games) around a campfire.   The Closing Liturgy, celebrated by Fr. Raymond Regua, National Director, and concelebrated by two Indonesian Priests and Fr. Pedro Castillo, was very moving. It was full of colors, liturgical dances and songs in the different languages and dialects. Everybody participated actively.  In his homily, Fr. Pedro invited the young people to make the most of the present time, to be humble leaders and real witnesses of Jesus upon returning to their respective homes and communities. After lunch, between laughters and tears, they bade each other farewell until the next Summer Youth Camp. The participants are hopeful that the Lord of Harvest may bless the seeds that they have sown together so it may grow and bear fruit. 

                                               Sr. Linda Gómez, D.C.