LAOAG CITY, May 15, 2011—With a hundred youth participants from 19 parishes and a Catholic school, the Diocesan Youth Commission (DYC) of Laoag for the second time gathered for a 2-day Diocesan Youth Leaders’ Assembly (DYLA-II) at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Davila, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, from May 6-7.
The DYLA-II was convened to respond to the call of the Diocese of Laoag to revisit the decrees of the First Diocese of Laoag Pastoral Assembly (DLPA-I) in 1994 where each commission of the diocese was then asked to create implementing guidelines (IGs) for the decrees that concerned their department; 13 decrees came out directly under the DYC.
The 13 decrees were divided into three sections: Organization, Programs, and Formation, which was treated at the DYLA to make preliminary IGs based on the context of the DYC and on the Ka-Lakbay: Directory for Catholic Youth Ministry of the Philippines.
After the deliberations, the delegates participated in the Holy Eucharist at the seaport of Davila that incidentally was celebrating a local feast called Dumadara Festival, a feast in honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of the Sea by the local fishermen.
A simple agape was then offered by local community to the participants. After which, a presentation of the accomplishments of the DYC and of some parishes were presented.
Before returning to their Nazareth homes, the delegates conducted a Taize prayer for the youth of the Diocese and for the accomplishment of the IGs.
The second-day started with a concelebrated mass with Bishop Sergio L. Utleg.
The DYLA was started by the DYC so that the youth leaders of the diocese periodically convene in order to come up with policies and plans for the commission and to share insights in the ministry.
The first DYLA was held last December 11-12, 2010 to plan the launching of the CBCP-Year of the Youth in the diocese. (Mark Vertido)
