A Catholic bishop in the Philippines is hopeful that the recently concluded National Youth Day (NYD) has brought spiritual renewal and transformation to the thousands of young delegates who took part.
Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of the Archdiocese of Caceres, chairperson of the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), expressed his prayer that the fruits and learnings from the gathering will be lived out and shared by the youth as they return to their local communities.
“The National Youth Day is a journey with Jesus who guides and keeps the flame of hope alive in us,” said Archbishop Alarcon in an interview with Radio Veritas Philippines.
“As you move on, go home and return, may you bring that renewed spirit. May your encounter with Jesus transform you, and may others see that transformation in you. Be instruments of renewal in your families, communities, and society,” he added.
Archbishop Alarcon acknowledged the deep hope he witnessed in the 8,000 young delegates who joined the NYD, which carried the theme “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”
He emphasized the importance of rekindling hope, especially during the Jubilee Year of the Church, focused on being “Pilgrims of Hope,” as the world continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic and other crises.
“Let us continue this pilgrimage of hope. Let us bring the joy that our world needs today. Many of our friends, family members, and coworkers long for hope. We are pilgrims of hope, let us bring back undying hope, courage, and perseverance,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Alarcon also expressed his gratitude to the young delegates for responding to the invitation to come together in unity. He likewise thanked the organizers, the Commission on Youth, host parishes, and foster families who warmly welcomed and supported the participants.
The five-day celebration featured formation sessions, workshops, community exposure, and growth activities, which allowed the youth to engage with various sectors in the Bicol region.
The closing Mass was presided over by Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Rolando Tria Tirona at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Minor Basilica and National Shrine. Concelebrating with him were Archbishop Alarcon, Bishop Marvyn Maceda of Antique, Bishop Luisito Occiano of Virac, priests from the Archdiocese of Caceres, and Youth Directors from different dioceses across the country.
In closing, Archbishop Alarcon announced the upcoming National Conference for Youth Ministers in 2026, to be held in the Diocese of Kidapawan, and the next National Youth Day in 2028, to be hosted by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
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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