PHILIPPINES Filipino youth gather in Palo for a Church of Hope

The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan 11 years ago has strengthened the faith of the people of Leyte, where the 22nd National Youth Ministry Conference (NCYM) is being held until July 21. Hundreds of delegates attended the biennial meeting to question the role of young people in the Church. Archbishop John F. Du: “Hope is present because of you.”

Palo () – Eleven years after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Yolanda), the 22nd National Youth Ministry Conference (NCYM) is taking place in Palo, Leyte province. It began on Wednesday 17 July with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop John F. Du and will end on Sunday 21 July. The central theme of the meeting is “Abound in Joy: Christ is our Hope” and it brought together hundreds of participants from different dioceses in the Archdiocese of Palo. The NCYM is a biennial event for Philippine youth ministry groups to coordinate, share information and develop new skills. It also involves the collaboration of the Youth Ministry, reinforcing its role as a vital part of the Church’s mission.

The site is very significant considering that on November 18, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda devastated Leyte, a Philippine island in the Visayas Archipelago, especially Tacloban and nearby cities. The Category 5 hurricane hit the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Palau, Micronesia and southern China, leaving more than 6,300 victims. Since then, the people of Leyte have held on to their deep faith and found solace in the undeniable truth that God is always with them, which helped them overcome pain and destruction. The typhoon became an encounter, a story of despair, death and hope. In November 2013, the maximum wind speed was 315 km/h, causing damages worth US$2.98 billion, the highest cost in Philippine history.

About 15-20% of Filipino Catholics are young people who attend Sunday Mass or participate in the sacramental life of the Church but are not members of any group or organization. One of the proposals made is the need to reach out to them through catechesis. Along with delegates from various dioceses, representatives of youth organizations from all over the Philippines are also participating. The five-day conference convened by the Youth Commission of the Philippine Catholic Bishops’ Conference began with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope in Communion,” which encouraged them to embark on entering the community as young servant leaders. The conference also reminded pastoral workers of the importance of uniting as one person and reaffirming their hope in Jesus Christ, the living God.

Palo Archbishop John F. Du opened the meeting on July 17 at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, built in 1596. In his homily he told the youth: “Hope is present because of you.” He also asked them to pray to protect marriage and family from efforts to legalize divorce in the Philippines. “The destruction of families is one of the great reasons why many young people today have lost hope,” he said. Starting from the foundation of communion, yesterday was centered on the abundance of joy and hope. Indeed, as Pope Francis noted, St. Paul reminds us to be joyful in hope, despite challenges and trials. Participants then addressed the topic of planning according to the principles of discipleship and stewardship contained in the Directory for Youth Ministry in the Philippines, “Ka-Lakbay.”