Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Davao urged Catholic youth ministers to ground their service in God’s love as he presided over the opening Mass of the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) Youth Congress 2026 on October 21.
The four-day congress, running from October 21 to 24, brings together youth ministers from 22 ecclesiastical territories across Mindanao, the Philippines’ southern major island region, under the theme “Mindanaoan Youth: Rooted in Love, Rising for Mission.”
In his homily, Archbishop Valles emphasized that Christian mission begins with recognizing and experiencing God’s love, which inspires believers to share the Gospel with others.
He said the congress theme connects being rooted in God’s love with rising to serve, stressing that proclaiming the Good News means sharing the love of God with people beyond one’s immediate community.
The opening Mass also coincided with the memorial of San Pedro Calungsod, a young Filipino missionary and martyr who was killed in Guam in 1672. His witness continues to inspire young Catholics to remain steadfast in their faith and courageous in proclaiming the Gospel.
Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati and 23 priests concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration, including directors and heads of youth apostolates from various dioceses and archdioceses.
Following the Mass, delegates proceeded to the Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao for the congress’ opening program and dinner, beginning four days of fellowship, formation, and reflection on the mission of young people in the Church.
The congress provides a gathering for youth ministers from across Mindanao to strengthen their commitment to accompanying young people in their faith and encouraging them to take an active role in the Church’s mission.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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