45 Cebuanos to join World Youth Day

CEBU, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Cebu will send 45 individuals as delegates for the World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal in August.

The world’s biggest gathering of Catholic youth for evangelization with Pope Francis carries the theme “Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39) and will take place on August 1 to 6, 2023.

The 45 delegates consist of former youth directors, youth leaders, and lay collaborators in the archdiocese of Cebu.

To bless the successful journey of the delegates, Archbishop Jose S. Palma did the “Right to Commission” and emphasized that this is a “very important moment of the delegate’s life.”

“There is so much grace and potential and there is a reason to celebrate in the World Youth Day. We should not take for granted this opportunity, many would have wanted to come,” Palma said.

He encouraged the delegates to make every effort meaningful and entrust to the Lord their safety.

Two of the 45 Cebuano delegates are still waiting for the approval of their VISA, even though they have applied on time.

During the press conference yesterday at the Archbishop’s Residence, Rev. Fr. Andrei Ventanilla, the Youth Director for the archdiocese, said that there were 90 initial participants during their first face-to-face orientation, however, only 45 persevered.

“Our guiding dictum goes, the World Youth Day is always a journey.  Like any other journey, it has its ups and downs. Nevertheless, these 45 youth lay and priest companions will be our official delegates to the World Youth Day,” Ventanilla added.

In an exclusive interview, Josh Gabriel Acedillo, considered as the youngest delegate, is already excited to do the pilgrimage with his Cebuano co-delegates.

“It would be very nice to see where our Christian roots came from. So, hopefully we get to see these places are the ones that inspired the faith of those people,” he added.

With the purpose to bring “Lisbon to Cebu,” the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Commission on Youth, has embarked on initiating a Local Participation World Youth Day 2023 here in Cebu.

In the same week, various parish churches from Cebu will be gathering to have their own local programs.

On August 1, there would be a Taize Prayer that would be held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.  The following day, a Holy Hour at National Shrine of St. Joseph would be observed.

A World Youth Day 2023 Grand Motorcade will be held on August 3, while a Via Crucis will be done the following day at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos.

On August 5, a Lakaw Panaw Uban ni Maria or the Fatima Experience will be staged, and the World Youth Day Wrap Up is scheduled the following day.

The archdiocese is expecting to gather over 1,000 young Cebuanos in the local participation of WYD 2023.

Catholics from all around the world meet at the World Youth Day to celebrate and nurturing the spirit of Christ.  It was established by Pope John Paul II in 1985. — (FREEMAN)