SAN JUAN City, Jan. 30, 2013—A Catholic prelate has urged children and youth to actively participate in the missionary endeavors of the Church.
“Engage actively in the mission of the Church,” Marawi Bishop Edwin De la Peña stressed in his homily during the Mission Congress held at San Juan Gymnasium on January 26.
“You, young people and children have the energy, enthusiasm, courage and the ability to take the risk to step forward and say, we want to be in that boat also, we want to be with Jesus and respond to the challenge of mission,” said De la Peña, who is also chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Mission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
The prelate also told the youth that being the future of the nation, this is the right time for them to take the opportunity to engage actively in the mission of the Church.
He challenged the young people to have a deeper and intimate relationship with Jesus.
De la Peña also encouraged everyone to continue the work of mission.
“We should not give up Jesus because He will not give up on us. You must continue the work you have done, the missionary work you have contributed to the Church,” he furthered.
Attended by almost 1,500 children and young people from different schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the gathering was held to celebrate Holy Childhood Day and to intensify awareness among children and youth about the universal mission of the Church.
Themed “Children of God: Called to Radiate the Word of Truth”, the event was also graced by Dr. J. Baptistine Ralamboarison, Secretary General of Vatican’s Pontifical Society of the Missionary Children and Fr. Ramil Tapang, SSP.
Aside from the talk, sharing and workshop, the life of the 2nd Filipino Teen Saint Pedro Calungsod was also portrayed through a theatrical play. (Jandel Posion/CBCPNews)
