YOUTH ministers from 65 ecclesiastical territories and 10 representatives from the Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO) gathered from May 5 to 9 at the Colegio de San Jose, Jaro, Iloilo City for their biennial conference centered on the theme “Youth Ministers: drawing and sharing life in God’s Word, witnessing to the world.”
The event, sponsored by the Episcopal Commission on Youth, aimed to help the youth ministers to rediscover the place and meaning of the Word of God in their lives.
Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, Diocese of Imus, was the resource speaker. He delved on the three main features of the theme that characterize the relationship between the Youth Minister and the Word of God. He urged delegates to allow the Word of God to become operative in their lives and “tell the story of Jesus as a youth minister who encounter the Word made flesh in Jesus.”
Workshops of the 5-day conference explored the various issues affecting youth ministries.
The topic “Bible study and Bible sharing” gave the participants two ways of approaching the Word of God which they can harness in their ministry among young people. The workshop was facilitated by Fr. Tomas Terania, Jr., Director of Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
“Understanding the Gospels”, facilitated by Fr. John Tadifa, Director of Propedeutic Year, St. Joseph Regional Seminary, led the participants to dig deeply into the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The participants were also led to reflect on the role of family in salvation history contextualizing it in the life of Jesus who was born and grew up in a family environment. In the “The Family in the Light of God’s Word” workshop, the family was regarded to have a central and pivotal role in youth ministry. Fr. Bernabe Tutana, Director of Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Family Life facilitated the workshop.
“Social Action and the Word of God”, with Msgr. Meliton Oso, Director of Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center as facilitator, “offered to help youth ministers see the richness and interconnectedness of youth ministry and the ministry of social action.”
The facility of spreading the Word of God through modern technology especially the internet was the central theme of “The Word of God and the World Wide Web”, facilitated by Fr. Ryan Teves, Director of Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Social Communication.
“Love and Intimacy in Scriptures”, facilitated by Sr. Fidelis Estrada, RA tackled genuine relationship that leads to a more effective ministry.
“Vocation Ministry and the Youth Ministry”, with Miss Esperanza Bugaoan as facilitator gave the participants a critical awareness of their role as youth ministers in accompanying young people in their vocational quest.
The youth ministers also familiarized themselves with bible sharing methods through “Lectio Divina”, facilitated by Sr. Claire Salvani, RA.
Participants were likewise given basic orientation on how to minister through spiritual direction. The workshop on “Spiritual Direction,” was facilitated by Fr. Gerard Alminaza, Rector of Sacred Heart Seminary.
Meanwhile, Fr. Joel Eslabra, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Candles Parish, Iloilo City facilitated a “Leadership” workshop, helping ministers to become effective leaders in imitation of Jesus, the leader par excellence.
Youth ministers were also challenged to look deeply into the aspect of “Youth Ministry and Homosexuality”, facilitated by Mr. Rolando II De Los Reyes of Human Life International Asia.
“Ministry among Indigenous People” looked into the important aspect of ministering to IP youth and their communities. The workshop was facilitated by Fr. Sergio Maniba of the Diocese of San Jose, Antique.
“Bibliodrama”, a holistic approach in internalizing the Word of God was facilitated by Miss Maritoni Suarez of the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate.
The delegates were also presented a novel way of proclaiming the Scriptures through the workshop “Street Theatre and the Scriptures”, facilitated by Mr. Joseph William Albana, president of Theatre Arts Guild, University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
“Fund Sourcing”, facilitated by Miss Milyn Leghid, Business Manager of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Development, University of the Philippines in Iloilo, helped youth ministers understand that one of their essential roles is to explore ways of securing resources to sustain their ministry.
The final workshop tackled the ministry to out-of-school youth called “Ministry in the Margins: Ministering to the Out-of-School Youth.” It was facilitated by Fr. Jimmy Carmona, SDB of the Don Bosco Boys’ Home and Training Center, Dumangas, Iloilo.
The delegates comprised a total of 45 priests, six nuns, two deacons and 209 lay from diocesan youth ministries and FNYO member-organizations.
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