6,564 young people united for the Marian Youth Congress

NAGA CITY -- The Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Caceres has led again the young people of the Archdiocese of Caceres and the entire Bicol region in the celebration of the Peñafrancia devotion and the celebration of the current Year of the Youth through the annual gathering Marian Youth Congress (MYC). It has drawn 6,564 Ka-Lakbays, of which, 6, 114 were delegates from Central, Bay, Partido and Rinconada, 120 were volunteers, 80 were animators and 250 were external volunteers.

This was the first time that the Caceres Youth Commission timetabled the event on August 24-25, 2019, ahead of the month of September. This has been done to assure the availability of the venue, not to coincide and overlap with other Peñafrancia activities, and to accommodate properly the delegates.

The gathering was formally opened with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by our dearest Archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D. of Caceres at the JMR Coliseum. In his homily, the archbishop called on the young people to draw inspiration from Mary as the “model” of service. “There are three (3) characteristics of the servant according to the Bible: First, the servant is ever present to his Lord and Master; second, the servant always listens and; third, the servant always proclaims,” Tirona said. In the recessional, everyone sung majestically the “Himno De Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia”.

They were also delighted with the presence of the “Hugot Queen”, Ms. Cherry Camille Depano, known for being a Social Media Influencer. Hugot Queen activated the young audiences in her inspiring life experiences where she connected it to some modern “hugots” of the young people. She led them to connect their lives to hers, as they have shared: “uy, nakakarelate ako ‘dun!” She ended it with a solemn prayer signifying the young people of God’s presence in their lives amidst their brokenness.

The highlights of the whole day gathering were the Liturgy of Lament and Vigil of Tears, the Solemn Procession integrated with Voyadores Street Parade and the Sayaw ki Ina presented by the selected young people from the different districts of the archdiocese (Central, Bay, Partido and Rinconada).

Hosted in two distinct locations, from JMR Coliseum to Basilica Minore, the Marian Youth Congress this year engaged the belovedness, the giftedness of the young people of the archdiocese in numerous expressions of history, culture, arts and music. Various activities reflected on the theme “I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word”, anchored from this year’s World Youth Day (WYD) and National Youth Day (NYD) celebrations.

It was a festive, formative and prayerful experience for our dear Ka- Lakbays, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, moved them to become empowered youth.

The Archdiocese of Caceres will also be hosting the National Youth Day in 2021, which is also the 5th centenary of the arrival of Christianity in the land. Photo credits: MYC FBPage