For “worldly” youth Archdiocese launches “Tambayan ni Pedro”

CEBU, Philippines – Since youth nowadays are more focused on “worldly” things, the Cebu Diocesan Youth Coordinating Council officially launched its grand project called “Tambayan Ni Pedro” yesterday.

Around 400 youth participants from different districts in Cebu Province joined the activity aimed to eradicate religious ignorance among the youth.

The activity was held at BJS covered court, Pope John Paul II Avenue, Cebu City.

Participating districts included Metro Cebu City North; Metro Cebu City South; Carcar to Argao; Barili to Samboan; Toledo area; Carmen to Bantayan; and Mandaue to Danao, or districts 1 to 7, respectively.

District eight was the Family of United and Empowered Leaders (FUEL), an organization composed of the various archdiocese-recognized religious youth covenanted communities, organizations and movements that are non-parish based.

The project was named after San Pedro Calungsod, the patron of Filipino youth who was a Roman Catholic Filipino migrant, sacristan and missionary catechist who, along with the Spanish Jesuit missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in 1672.

“Ato sila (youth) kab-uton, we would educate them so that we will have good Christian citizens puhon,” said Frankel Gerard Margallo, chairman of the committee on worship of the Cebu Diocesan Youth Coordinating Council.

He said he has observed that the youth are currently doing more “worldly” things than focusing on their spiritual formation.

Tambayan ni Pedro, Margallo said, will serve as a big study group by which the young people will have their monthly meet-ups in their respective parishes to study the teachings of the church.

He added that in this way, the youth are going to foster their devotion to San Pedro Calungsod by praying its devotional prayer and to appreciate the Eucharist in mass celebrations.

“This is a continuing formation and we hope nga we will have 100 percent compliance,” added Margallo.

The council also announced yesterday that FUEL will be hosting the 2017 Local World Youth Day.

However, Margallo cannot tell yet the venue of the activity since there was no decision made yet.

He added that they are also preparing for the Youth Catechism Congress scheduled for September to be held at Ecotech Center, Lahug, Cebu City. —/NSA (FREEMAN)