The 23rd YFC International Conference had started a breakthrough; an activity that lets its participants beyond the four corners of the community walls. It had gave its attendees to be fully integrated with the parishes. The whole-day activity is called the Parish Encounter. The event was held in the different parishes around the province of Bohol.
To hype-up the attendees, the hosts had started a game in which colored papers are randomly distributed and every member writes a question, no matter how random it is. The game’s aim is to let them answer that question and to be known to each other, gaining new friends.
As Catholics, the celebration of the Holy Mass is never forgotten. As unique as they may be, they are united in giving thanks to the Lord.
This encounter aims to build camaraderie and partnership between our YFC community and the parishes’ youth ministry, benefitting both parties in a unique yet mutually beneficial. The session that were led by the parish priest of each venue focuses on one thing – the Acts of the Apostles.
In order to apply a twist in the community’s effort to put the faith in action, the parish youth ministry had teamed-up with our brothers and sisters to perform random acts of kindness. After the activity, the participants had shared to each other with a heart that is full of love and on what they had experienced during the allotted time.
As the sun sets, our couple coordinators had shone like any star like our guides in the community. Our parents in YFC had been more than willing to learn contemporary music. As expected, the crowd had made so much noise in cheering for their beloved coordinators.
For the second night, the sessionistas had caught the attention of the crowd through playing and singing-along of popular songs. Also, the youth had yelled in happiness when a hugot-themed video was played.
Kuya Er Abringe, CFC UAE Coordinator from the international delegations had talked about prayer. The session is entitled No Matter What. It is centered on the topic of prayer. Nothing can stop us from praying to the Lord, he cited. He had pointed out that we too must tell our concerns to God. He also emphasized Paul’s conversion. As he shared his transformation story, it had totally changed him as a person.
Ate Bunny Enriquez, a fulltime pastoral worker for Metro Manila shared her testimony entitled The Story of Us. It was about her family fighting over numerous things until one day, their neighborhood’s houses were set on fire. As it reaches the vicinity of their houses, the fire stopped. With this, she had never stopped praying and giving thanks to God. What matters is our payer time with the Lord, she emphasized.
Ate Andrelene Veloso for Negros Occidental grew up hating her father for various reasons. Because of these, her mother went into a 50/50 state. Carrying all of those burdens, she herself had become an unruly person. Through this community, she had re-established herself into that person that God wants her to be. As time passed by, she had forgiven her father but in 2015, her father gave up to the fight with Diabetes. As this happened, she had that thoughts of questioning God on why these things had took place. In the end, despite everything, she vowed to be that person that will serve God despite everything.
For the last sharing, Ate Rjane Beltran’s mother had suffered from kidney disease. Thts sharing had been her usual sharing wherever she may be. As her mother lies in bed, she never ceased on praying and singing the song Have Your Way, even though she is not a part of our community. Even though her mother died, she never had these questions for God on why these things occur. Her faith never wavered as she chose to believe in God’s promises. For her, our service is a bed of roses, together with its stems and thorns.
Kuya Gerald Manapsal had led the youth into prayer and had encouraged them to write all of their prayers and put it on a balloon as a symbol of lifting all of them up. As one community of believers, true enough that the Lord will always ne the one that will never fails to listen and answer us.
HIGHLIGHTS (IN PHOTOS):
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