MALOLOS, Bulacan, October 5, 2011—Hundreds of youth from the parishes of the Diocese of Malolos will gather at the Immaculate Concepcion School for Boys to experience what thousands of Catholic youth from all parts of the globe went through during the World Youth Day (WYD) in Spain last August.
Aiming to echo the teachings of the WYD to young Bulaceños who were not able to participate in the global gathering of the youth with Pope Benedict XVI, the Diocesan Commission on Youth of Malolos is organizing an overnight “WYD echoing” on October 21 to 22 at ICSB.
Themed “Sharing the fruits of World Youth Day Madrid 2011; Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the Faith,” the gathering will feature activities that mimic what has transpired during the WYD in Madrid from August 16 to 21.
According to DCY director Fr. Angelito Santiago, they have prepared their own version of the Via Crucis, youth festival, vigil with the Monsignor and the closing Mass with the Bishop to let non-WYD participants experience what it is like to attend the WYD.
“We formulated the activities in such a way that we will be able to infuse the teachings we got from our WYD experience and share it with the participants. Contextualization of the Pope’s message to the youth is very important and will be echoed in the homilies and talks,” he said.
Santiago said it was the first time that the DCY Malolos will put up a special event to echo the lessons of WYD.
“What inspired us is the message of Pope Benedict, calling on WYD participants to share the blessings of the WYD to youth and the rest of the community,” he added.
Santiago also noted that they scheduled the DCY Malolos’ WYD echoing with the first feast day of Blessed John Paul II.
“This is to celebrate the life of Pope John Paul II and remember his great works, including founding the WYD celebration,” he said.
Bishop Jose Oliveros, who headed the seven-man delegation of Bulacan to the WYD in Madrid, is expected to attend the event.
The Bulacan WYD participants spent their Days in the Diocese at Mata de Alcantara province. (YouthPinoy)