BACOLOD City, July 19, 2013—Two Hundred young people from all over the Diocese of Bacolod in Western Visayas are expected to join the simultaneous local World Youth Day (WYD) celebration on July 28 at the St. John Marie Vianney Hall, San Sebastian Cathedral Rectory. 
According to organizers, the local celebration in the diocese is an answer to the call of Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity that youth ministries all over the world should celebrate the international event locally.
“Considering that not all young people will have the opportunity to experience the international gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, thus celebrating it through a whole day of testimony, catechesis, group sharing and the mass,” organizers added
With theme taken from the international celebration, “Go and Make Disciples of all Nations (Mt. 28:19,” the local gathering of young people will be a festive experience of solidarity with their fellow youth and will provide inspiring experiences of being challenged by their friendship with Christ.
Ms. Lorna Lagumbay, a diocesan delegate to World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain will give a testimony of her experiences of the previous gathering.
Fr. Louan Torrefranca, a vicariate youth director, will be the speaker for the catechesis that will talk about the theme of WYD 2013.
Updates of WYD Rio will be given in the afternoon followed by a small group sharing before culminating the event through a Holy Mass to be celebrated by Fr. Mitchel Guadalupe, the diocesan treasurer and former diocesan youth director. (Jandel Posion)
