QUEZON City, Sept. 17, 2013—Two members of the Dominican Network Youth Group in the Philippines participated in a global meeting of International Dominican Youth Movement (IDYM) held in Bogota, Colombia recently.
The Filipino delegates were Elijor Benjamin Rodil, the network’s national coordinator, and Venus Ae Kaiel Basa, current treasurer, of the National Coordinating Council of DomNet Youth.
Rodil and Basa are graduating students of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Arts and Letters, respectively.
DomNet Youth’s national adviser Fr. Christopher Jeffrey Aytona accompanied the two delegates. He said going to Colombia had been a challenging task, because of long travel that practically took two days from Manila to Bogota.
“Travelling that far was tough,” he said. “But once you reached the land known as ‘El Dorado,’ you will discover that what really glitter are not gold nor other precious gems, but a warm welcome from a family that is ready to make you feel at home on this side of the world.”
The international encounter featured pilgrimages, workshops on preaching, Muisca concerts, cultural programs, and talks on how to deepen the faith by becoming more active in the works of charity and on the joy of being a family journeying together in the modern times.
The meeting also came out with an efficient structure for IDYM, answers to concerns on communication and collaborative formation program, and plans of the Dominican youth for the celebration of the 800th foundation anniversary of the Order in 2016.
Philippines was the only Asian nation among the 25 participating countries, mostly from South and Central America.
Dominican Master General Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP spent time with young delegates in a dialogue, where he inspired them to be partners in the preaching task of the Order.
Also present in the gathering were Sr. Maria Genevra Rossi, OP, executive secretary of IDYM; Fr. Wojcieck Delik, OP, friar’s representative to IDYM; Sr. Cecil Tonde, OP, Dominican Sisters’ International representative; and the young members of the International Commission Andreas Riveira (Mexico), Kevin Sullivan (USA), and Jorge Lagos (Chile).
The encounter concluded with the election of officers: Jose Alberto from Spain was elected International Commissioner, while Rodil was elected as member of the organizing team for the next IDYM International Assembly on the Jubilee of the Order in 2016.
The event took place at the Universidad Santo Tomas, San Alberto Magno Campus in Bogota, Colombia last July 8-17.
Hosted by the Province of St. Louis Bertrand, the gathering had the theme “It is me in Person!” (Luke 24:39). (CBCPNews)
