International Eucharistic Congress come 2016

CEBU, Philippines - As Cebu’s hosting of the International Eucharistic Congress come 2016 nears, more Cebuano youngsters attended this year’s Local World Youth Day (LWYD) compared to last year.

Compared to last year’s 2,000 participants, yesterday’s registration listed around 3,100 youth from several parishes around the Cebu Archdiocese, LWYD registration committee in charge Krishna Jacalan accounted.

The rise of the number of participants at this year’s gathering of young Catholics was attributed to the recent canonization of the very first Visayan martyr San Pedro Calungsod as well as the nearing canonization of Pope John Paul II who are both known patrons of the youth, Jacalan shared.

Yesterday’s opening day at the Blessed John XXIII Seminary Grounds was started with a Eucharistic celebration led by Father Roland Angel Anthony Torres, Father Joselito Clemen, and Commission on Youth’s (COY) Father Mark Barneso and Father Kit Sestoso.

COY chairman Father Sestoso delivered the homily before thousands of Cebuano youth who braved the summer heat and suited themselves squatting, sitting and even standing at the seminary grounds in Mabolo, Cebu City.

Sestoso emphasized to the youth in attendance the importance of poverty as a reminder of God’s blessings.

“The rich have big houses but sometimes this brings insecurity. Small houses, on the other hand, brings closeness to the family. The youth is often enticed with empty happiness. We must protect that ourselves exist. A person must be able to take his cross ready to endure the risk, for the sake of being true to Him. The Lord died, sacrificed his life, and that is he carrying of the cross. And so we ask, are we ready to carry our cross?” Sestoso addressed the jam-packed LWYD 2014 venue.

The homilist reminded the over 3,000 youth in attendance that “Basta batan-on nga mapaubsanon, malipayon. Basta batan-on nga masaligon, malipayon.”

As opposed to the usual three days LWYD, this year’s activity that includes youth festival, catechesis, Via Crucis, Holy Hour, confessions, as well as dialogue with Archbishop Jose Palma was only good for two days which ends today.

As part of the second and last day of this year’s LWYD, Palma will lead the 4 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass also serving as the activity’s closing mass.  (FREEMAN)