MANILA, April 20, 2013—With three months to go before the World Youth Day in Brazil, the first agenda for WYD international volunteers from the Philippines is to prepare spiritually for a journey that will not only take them thousands of miles away from home, but also nearer their own hearts.
According to Lea Dasigan, a member of the Episcopal Commission on Youth–Delegation Secretariat in charge of the international volunteers, the formation of the volunteers, which started last April 14, aims to help the volunteers attune themselves more to God’s will for them individually.
“’Yung iba klaro na (For some, it is clear) what they are looking for, ‘yung iba aminado na (some admit) they are still searching about the plan of God for them…Hopefully the WYD will help them realize what they are looking for,” Dasigan explained.
Last April 14, eight official international volunteers from Batangas, Manila and Pasig attended the first formation session, which included Lectio Divina and faith sharing on John 1:35-39, the passage where Jesus invites some of the disciples to “come and see” where He lived.
More than just an event
Dasigan explained how the sharing also revealed more about the reality of being part of WYD.
“It is not by chance that they are the volunteers of WYD. It is actually God inviting them to ‘come and see’,” she added.
The WYD organizers in Brazil have officially recognized some 135 international volunteers from the Philippines. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
