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PHILIPPINES Southern Catholics gather around Youth Day Cross to pray for peace
21-08-2009
PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines (UCAN) -- Hundreds of Catholics are gathering around the Asian Youth Day (AYD) cross on its pilgrimage to churches in the southern Philippines and praying for peace in the wake of armed clashes in some areas there.
The pilgrimage, which began with the first AYD, held in Thailand in 1999, needs to reach "far-flung and critical areas" of the southern Philippines so these places "will be blessed," Mary Elizalyn Provido told UCA News in Pagadian City.
The 23-year-old chairs the youth ministry of Jolo vicariate in Sulu province, southwest of Pagadian. She and more than 100 other youths and youth ministry workers gathered at Holy Infant Seminary in Pagadian City on Aug. 15 for the handover of the cross to Pagadian diocese.
When the cross visited her vicariate two days earlier, she recalled, her group prayed before it for "our wish for a peaceful Jolo to come true."
For Pringles Dumadag, chairperson of the youth ministry of Zamboanga archdiocese, between Pagadian and Sulu, "the AYD Cross is not only the symbol of suffering of Christ but a symbol of victory over sin and God's love for humanity."
Diocesan youth ministry workers, with help from AYD organizers, are bringing the bamboo cross to various Mindanao dioceses this month as part of the spiritual preparation for the Fifth AYD, scheduled Nov. 20-27. It will start in parishes around Manila and continue with events in Imus, Cavite province.
The Youth Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, part of the federation's Office of Laity and Family, the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and Imus diocese are organizing AYD 2009. Organizers hope to gather 2,000 youths, clergy, Religious and lay youth ministry workers around Asia for interaction, prayer, worship, recollection and workshops.
This year's theme is "YAsia Festival! Young Asians: Come Together, Share the Word, Live the Eucharist."
The cross started its pilgrimage in Mindanao, the southern Philippine region, on Aug. 1 in Surigao diocese, at the region's northeastern tip. It is to visit all 21 Mindanao dioceses, prelatures and vicariates. The cross stays a day and overnight in most places so people can gather around it for liturgical services and recollection on the meaning of the Eucharist in their life, and on what young people can do to build communion.
AYD is a celebration of the Catholic faith aiming at rejuvenating the church. It is held in years without an international World Youth Day celebration, which has usually been held every two years. After Thailand, it was held in Taiwan in 2001, India in 2003 and Hong Kong in 2006.
http://www.ucanews.com/2009/08/21/southern-catholics-gather-around-youth...
