Young people gather for the celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy for the Youth at the Diocesan Youth Day (DYD) on Aug. 27 at the Colegio de Sta. Ana School Gymnasium. (Photo: Alhie Creo).
PASIG City, Aug. 31, 2016 – It was the spirit of mercy-themed World Youth Day (WYD) relived, at the celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy for the Youth at the Diocesan Youth Day (DYD) on Aug. 27, as young people from the Diocese of Pasig where challenged to live out mercy on a daily basis.
Heading the first session, Rev. Marc Will Lim, SDB, in his talk “How to be merciful in a concrete way”, called on members of the Pasig Diocesan Youth Ministry and WYD Krakow delegates attending the event held at Colegio de Sta. Ana School Gymnasium to concretely live out mercy.
“How do we make mercy felt by others? Ang awa na walang gawa ay walang halaga (Mercy without works is worthless),” he stressed, explaining how “Jesus is the Face of Mercy” during a meditation on the Gospel passage of Jesus’ encounter with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32).
Concrete mercy
According to Lim, Jesus first shows mercy to each person in a concrete way.
“Even if we go away from Him, Jesus does not turn away from us. He even journeys with us… This is a concrete way of God showing mercy towards us,” he said.
The highest point of the DYD was the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, which was led by Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, as main celebrant, with Fr. Michael Ortega, Fr. Jhun Sanchez, Fr. Jeoffrey Catuiran, Fr. Leo, and Fr. PJ of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, as concelebrants.
Patience, perseverance, prayer
In his homily Bishop Vergara encouraged the young people to be “good stewards of God’s mercy”.
In line with this, the prelate underlined three virtues shown in the life of St. Monica whose liturgical feast was celebrated that day: “patience, perseverance, and prayer”.
St. Monica is honored for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly for her prayerful life dedicated to the conversion of her son, Augustine, who later became a bishop and be recognized as one of the great Fathers and Doctors of the Church. (Fr. Mickey Cardenas/CBCP News)
