Mission Month celebrated with Children and Youth Festival

By Rubilyn Lopez

Every October, the Catholic community celebrates Mission Month, a time to encourage the faithful to participate in the Church’s missionary work and consider themselves as missionary disciples. Last October 26, the Archdiocese of Caceres celebrated this occasion with the 21st Children and Youth Mission held at Partido State University in Goa, Camarines Sur.

Participants from various parishes and schools across the Bicol Region gathered. The event aimed to strengthen the faith of the young people, deepen their understanding of God’s love and inspire them to live out the values of mission in their communities.

21st Children and Youth Mission Festival at the Partido State University Gymnasium, Goa, Camarines Sur. Themed "Missionaries of Hope among all Peoples", the said Festival was held last Oct 19. (Photo credit: Archdiocese of Caceres Office for Mission and Evangelization Facebook page)

During the Holy Mass celebration, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Almoneda, Vicar General, reminded everyone that our mission is “to preach, to share Jesus as part of our Christian life". He also shared the story of Little James, one of the 12 Disciples, who once hesitated when God commanded him to go, to preach the Good News, to heal, and to give refuge to sinners. Fr. Almoneda emphasized the powerful message of God to James: “I did not heal you because I trust you.” This, he explained, serves as a reminder that as the young lives out their mission, God is always with them, guiding and strengthening their faith along the way.

After the eucharistic celebration, a missionary sharer, Sabrina Masanggay from the St. Paul Academy shared her reflection from the homily. "Jesus is the actual mission, [why] we need to preach. Because Jesus is the Good News and the mission we are told to do is to share the Good News", she said, inspiring other participants to embrace their mission to evangelize.

Various activities took place that brought joy and fellowship among the participants. There were vibrant and spiritual dance and song performances from different participating parishes and schools, showcasing the youth’s talent and devotion. The crowd was also entertained by a magic show at the gymnasium, adding a light and fun atmosphere to the celebration while the contests are ongoing.

These include poster making, slogan writing, prayer writing, and tigsik, which allowed participants to creatively express their faith and understanding of the mission’s theme.

Before the awarding of winners and the final blessing, a Living Rosary was held in honor of the Holy Rosary Month, where some participants formed a large rosary formation symbolizing the unity and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemn activity served as a meaningful reminder of the power of prayer.

The 21st Children and Youth Mission concluded with a final blessing from the Archbishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Rex Alarcon, D.D. Indeed, it was another meaningful and joyful gathering of the young faithful, marking the event as a success. The participants went home carrying wonderful experiences and a renewed commitment to live out their mission—to share and preach Jesus with others.