5th Asian Youth Day

By Mary Joy Rile

The author attended the 5th Asian Youth Day as a delegate of Institucion Teresiana (IT) Youth -Philippines.

The 5th Asian Youth Day (AYD5) with the theme ‘Young Asians: Come Together, Share the Word, Live the Eucharist’ was held in the Philippines from 20 to 27 November. The first three days were spent for ‘AYD5 Days in the Diocese’ wherein the around 2000 delegates from the different countries in Asia were divided among ten participating dioceses in Luzon. This was to allow the delegates to experience the Church’s youth in action and to be involved in parish youth activities while they were in the care of foster families. 23-27 November were the days for AYD proper.

On 23 November all the delegates met at Imus, Cavite, the venue for AYD5 2009. YAsia Fiesta opening ceremony started with a Holy Mass. Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus, Cavite, stressed in his homily that Jesus in the Eucharist gives His everything, His body and blood. Just like Jesus, we should give our all; that’s how we live. We come together to share the Word in wisdom, prudence and strength.

Quoting from Pope John Paul II, he also emphasized that ‘Jesus was born on Asian soil . . . In God’s time, the Word came in fullness and He became in flesh as Asian’, one of us, Young Asians (YAsians).

It was so timely that while we were celebrating AYD5 in Cavite, Philippines, the world also acknowledges the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida, a native of Cavite.

The Masses celebrated each day beautifully incorporated the readings of the texts and the prayers of the faithful in different languages with the English translations being flashed on the screens. The formulated morning prayers centered on the main text of the celebration, The Multiplication of the Loaves (Jn 6:1-15). It was re-enacted solemnly using rice, as the staple food of Asia. Also, Bishop Rolly Tirona of Infanta, Isabela, describing YAsians as Rich in Christ’s Experiences, with ‘RICE’ as an acronym for this. ‘As we eat the rice and receive nourishment from it, may we YAsians become effective resource of our respective churches and countries.’

Another highlight was the expression of ‘The Word in Many Religions in Asia’ through the reading of the Golden Rule in different Asian Religious Traditions – Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Shintoism – as incorporated in the inter-religious morning prayer.

The plenary sessions provided us with much knowledge in understanding and valuing more the Eucharist. Bishop Cornelius Sim of Brunei-Darussalam spoke on the topic, ‘YAsians, Come Together and Celebrate the Word’ on 24 November. He emphasized that in order for us to know our identity, we need to know who we are called to be and how must we live out the call. He led us to the realization of God’s call for us considering the challenge of modernity and globalization, and of how the world is confronting us with paradoxes.

How can we bring the mind of Jesus to bear on the many issues of this world? We find the answers in the Word that we can rely on – the Bible! ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Reiterating the story of the Road to Emmaus, Bishop Sim said that we must be attentive to God’s works or else we might miss out on the graces just like the two men.

We are most assured that we have something within us, a tremendous music that we can share with others. And that very music that we carry within us is Jesus; no one can take that away from us.

The topic ‘YAsians, Love and Live the Eucharist’ on 25 November was expounded by Archbishop Dominic Jala SDB of Shillong, India. He explained to us the importance of the Holy Eucharist. We are encouraged to participate in the Sacrifice of the Mass as well as to have faith and believe in its Mystery. ‘Beyond the Mass, we adore the Eucharistic Lord and the Eucharist overflows into social commitment.’

We are called to live the Mystery which we celebrate in the Holy Eucharist. Just as we are being sent out in Mission at the end of the Mass, we are to share the gift that we receive. We are called to ‘transform the world by the power He (God) gives us.’

On 26 November Joseph Cardinal Zen SDB of Hong Kong (China) expatiated on the topic ‘Mission: Road of the Word and Eucharist.’ ‘How many of our contemporaries are empty, fearful in the desperate search for meaning?’ was a question he posed to the YAsians. He encouraged us to tell everyone that God exists and not to be ashamed in telling people that we have the Truth. ‘Anyone who has discovered Christ must lead others as well.’ The world needs a renewal, a transformation. And ‘Youth,’ he continued, ‘you still have hands to offer and to use generously. You represent the youth of this generation, the enthusiasm . . . to be Heroes of Mission.’

Together with his strong words of invitation to the youth was the recognition that to be heroes of Mission on the Roads to the Word and the Eucharist is a great challenge that we cannot fulfill on our own. We rather need the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.

Citing the atheistic regime of China that is greatly threatening to our priests and religious, he appealed to us that they need our help, our prayers, our encouragement for them to be faithful and to be firm. He explained further, ‘Nobody is entitled to martyrdom. And we don’t push anybody to it. Martyrdom is a gift . . .’

The Hardships as Pilgrims

People just can’t avoid but complain about the transportation. We were made to wait long before the buses arrived. Especially on the first night, there were even unclear instructions as to how we could get back to our accommodation sites. Because of the delays in transportation, the hours for rest were shortened. We went to bed very late, even after midnight, and then had to get up very early as we were expected to leave for Rogationist College, the main venue for AYD5, at 6:30am.

A language barrier was another thing that we had to bear. During the sharing we could sense the uneasiness of those who could hardly speak English. They wanted to share far more but just couldn’t express themselves. Sometimes we interpreted their gestures, and they were able to confirm the accuracy of the meaning we took from them.

A pilgrimage as part of the opening ceremony of AYD5 was such a good thing but there were cases of dehydration and over-fatigue for those who were unprepared for the long walk, along with the long and tiring night.

To those who stayed after the closing ceremony on 27 November, the Post-AYD5 Pilgrimage was another challenging experience for them to ponder as pilgrims for they were left with no accommodation after it. Others just stayed in the Rogationist College gymnasium waiting for daybreak.

The Joys of Sharing

The youth’s favorite was the meeting of new friends from different nations and different cultures. We were caught with a language barrier but that didn’t stop us from conversing and even learning a few words of other languages. The enthusiasm of the youth prevailed. The volunteering spirit was visible as they offered assistance to the organizing team.

We were made aware of other nations’ social concerns through the sharing and presentations. The forum provided the venue for some suggestions coming from different perspectives on how to go about certain issues.

Picture-taking was fun as we shared remembrances through photos. We’ve been sharing photos over the net and looking at those photos enlivens the AYD5 spirit in us. Keeping in touch through emails, Facebook, Friendster and other online social networking allows us to continue the friendships.

The beauty of learning on such an occasion is truly worth reminiscing about.

Worth Remembering

Sub-Regional Sessions – I was assigned to Southeast Asia 1 sub-region. We had a sharing on our ‘personal’ Bible – ‘The Good News in My Life’. Volunteering to be the secretary in our circles was for me a privilege as I was able to note every individual’s sharing.

Gallery Walk: YAsia Peria! – Through the exhibits, we had a taste of the richness and culture of every participating country during the AYD. It was fun and exciting roaming around with your cluster group checking various cultures with the informative exhibits, delicacies, games, dancing and the playing of musical instruments, and picture-taking of others wearing their native costumes!

Liturgical Concert – This displayed the talents and liveliness of Filipinos through different musical presentations. What was so striking for me that night was the dramatic flag procession, especially when flags were waved in a special way giving honor to Our Lady as her image was being carried on stage.

YAsian Walk (with Mass Integrated): ‘Taken, Blessed, Broken, Shared’ – This was a creative celebration of the Holy Eucharist at five stations. Walking from station to station gave us the chance to listen to the reflections of the priests and to share our own personal experiences. We also shared about what we were willing to give to God for Him to multiply, after which we wrote our intention on a piece of paper and placed it inside a bamboo pole. Later, the poles were formed into an altar where the Mass was to be concluded. Bishop Joel Baylon, the main celebrant, shared with us three actions that we need to do being missionaries: arise, go and stay. Being sent on a mission, whenever we are gathered together we need to arise. We must go to continue the Mission. But at particular moments in our lives, we are called to stay with family, friends, or others because it is from among them that we can find other ‘delegates’ to do God’s work. ‘We have a mission to fulfill because that is who we are.’

Vigil – This incorporated the Adoration and Taizé Prayer led by the Brothers of Taizé. During the veneration of the Cross, there were on-going Confession and Counseling. Truly it was a heart-warming experience of reconciliation, with God manifesting himself according to the need of each person present.

Youth-Sharing: YAsian Heroes in Mission – Representatives from different nations shared the major concerns of their country and how they address such. A fruitful open forum followed. But what really struck me during the forum was when the news of the Maguindanao Massacre on 23 November was brought up through a question raised. Fr Efren Reyes of Mindanao clarified that it was politically motivated and had nothing to do with the Indigenous-Muslim-Christian conflict. This was later affirmed in the workshop which I attended.

Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue – Being a Filipino concerned about the Mindanao conflict, it felt good to hear directly from a Muslim, Bailinda Eman, the only Muslim present at AYD, affirming that religion is not the reason for the conflicts in Mindanao. The main purpose of Interfaith Dialogue is to build relationships. In order to achieve this, we just need to respect each other. We only need to open our hearts and listen.

Grand YAsia Fiesta – This was a night of such a spectacular display of Asian cultures! The cultural presentations were greatly entertaining. Everybody was wearing their native costume. Indeed the pride of national identity was extraordinary before the big crowd of many nationalities. The more we get to appreciate our very own.

Closing Ceremony – We were graced with such a big number of priests and bishops present in the house and with the presence of Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, bringing a message from Pope Benedict XVI. We felt so blessed as we were sent out back to our different countries with the thought of becoming witnesses to Christ.

One of the things that captured the crowd’s heart and attention was when Bishop Tagle of the Diocese of Imus expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who helped towards the success of AYD5. His heart was so overflowing in gratefulness that he even shed tears which made many of us almost teary-eyed also.

Everybody rejoiced at the announcement of the next Asian Youth Day to be held in Korea in 2012.

Some links

Video of AYD Theme Song: http://www.cathnewsphil.com/2010/01/07/5th-asian-youth-day-theme-song-mtv/, the Rogationist College’s interpretation of the theme song of the 5th Asian Youth Day. The song was composed by Father Mimo Perez and sung by Geli P. Federoso. The MTV was directed by Ritchel B. Ybañez and produced by the Rogationist Fathers in Silang, Cavite.

Website of Asian Youth Day 2009: http://www.asianyouthday2009.com/

AYD5 Logo: http://yasiafiesta.multiply.com/journal/item/1

You may email Joy at editorialassistant@misyononline.com