To the Christian Life Teachers and Theology Professors of the STCJPYM

To the Christian Life teachers and Theology professors of the youth we call the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish Youth Ministry:

     It is with joy that I share with you pictures (with credits to the owners) of how your students, the members of our Parish Youth Ministry (PYM), spent the last days of Lent this year: they woke up early to practice for their service in the High Masses or for their dances for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday and then they also gave up their afternoons to practice for the living Stations of the Cross for Holy Wednesday.  Yes, unlike most of their peers, they resisted the desire to stay in bed until lunch time and bore the heat of the early afternoon sun during practice.  Needless to say, it was an inspiration to watch them live out their faith. 

Production team and cast of the Living Stations of the Cross

     I, too, am a former CL teacher (one member of our PYM was a student of mine) and I recall how a seasoned colleague of mine shared that unlike other subject teachers who teach inside the classroom, “We only begin our lessons when we step out of the classroom.”  I would like to believe that we have taught our students well (by the lives that we have lived) and that they have shared their faith with others in the same way that we shared our faith with them.

Sr. Judy and our kapitan 

Jesus falls 

The people of Jerusalem

The Women of Jerusalem

    While getting ready to put on his Crucifixion costume, the boy who played Jesus in our living Stations of the Cross stated, “Buti nalang love ko si Jesus.” setting his heart right (as well as the hearts of the rest of the cast and crew).  It wasn't just something to do to while away the summer...it was for the love of Jesus.

The STCJP Youth Ministry with our Shrine Rector and Parish Priest
Fr. Aly Barcinal

PYM Animators with Fr. Aly and Sr. Judy before performing the "Dance of Fire"

STCJP Knights of the Altar before the Blessing of Fire and Water

    Your students, our youth ministers, made my Holy Week a more meaningful one through their boundless energy and enthusiasm to serve God in more ways than one.  Let us all pray that they, together with the rest of the youth ministers around the world, continue to love Jesus and promulgate the Catholic faith.

All for God’s greater glory! 

PYM Retreat 2011: DARE to Be Holy

May 25-27, 2011

Bukal ng Tipan, CICM Maryhill Compound, Taytay, Rizal

The threat of Typhoon Chedeng failed to stop 18 youth from our parish (St. Therese of the Child Jesus) to take part in this 3-day retreat that Noehl and I so lovingly put together (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, of course).  It was an empowering retreat for our youth and more so for us, as their coordinators.


DARE is an acronym for Discipleship, Active, Righteous and Excellence.  Our 3-days (technically just 2) saw us engage in an icebreaker, 5 (five) talks, a number of reflection questions to answer, sharing, team building activities, games, fellowship, and so much more to stress on the Spirit's "Dare to Be Holy".  Some highlights of our retreat in pictures:  


DAY ONE

We began with the "Balloon Babies" Icebreaker.  The sweet taste of success after two tries!

Reflection after introductory talk.

Session 1: Discipleship


The talk on Discipleship saw our youth give up their prized possessions.  (Note on paper bag in lower right corner: "I ask you why???"  When we explained the reason why before lunch of our final day, the answer had everyone agreeing to the wisdom of letting go of their gadgets.)


DAY TWO

Session 2: Active
Team Building Activity #1: Flip the Blanket (before the fall of grace...Grace Sandoval -- young lady in light blue! hahaha!)

Team Building Activity #2:  Back-to-Back

Team Building Activity #3: Blind Polygon

Team Building Activity #4: The Snake Game

Team Building Activity #5:  Count-off (The most stressful TBA...the time they could eat their lunch depended on it!)

LUNCH with a view!


Afterwards, we had our much deserved siesta.  (Dumating tuloy si fr. Neil na walang sumalubong sa kanya...boo!) Then confession at 2pm.  Mass at 3:30pm.  

Session 3: Righteous
That's me giving talk #3...=)

FELLOWSHIP!!!
The picture that began the rivalry called: Familia Villamayor.

Game #2: Flick the Bottle Cap  (We failed to take pictures of Game #1:  Arrange Yourselves)

Game #3:  Drop the Blanket

Bonding Activity: Back Stabbing

One of the many frogs (or toad ba ito?) that visited our session hall throughout our retreat.

Obvious bang hindi natuloy ang bonfire namin?!  Kawawa naman ang mga kiddos namin...they were soooo prepared for it.  The late afternoon rain wet our firewood...

...but it didn't dampen their spirit to have fun.  We had an impromptu jamming session, dancing and so much more.  


The rivalry of the "tunay" na Villamayors and "ampon" na Villamayors were heightened during the night's fun...=)  We called it a night at around 11:30pm so as to prepare for our little surprise (thanks to Mike and Iya) for our birthday girl, Abby...

Happy birthday, Abby!

Ang mga naghati-hati sa isang slice ng cheescake...

Ang mga naghatid ng isang slice ng cheescake...


DAY THREE

There's a New Generation!

"Popcorn" Prayer (Thanks, Jeff!)

Session 4: Excellence

Personal Commitment

Front row (left to right): me, Gene, Mike, Abby, Trina, Kayen, Knic, Grace, Mike, Jaiza and, Noehl

Back row (left to right): Anatoly, Erwin, Lem, Reffy, Fredrian, Eric, Gab, Alwin, and Adrian

I would have ended with this group picture of ours...but I just had to add these last two pictures to show you that our youth know how to play hard, as much as they pray hard.  Our "Just for Kicks" pictures...

On my right are the "ampons".  On my left, the "tunay na mga Villamayor".

Second to the last photo taken at the retreat house.

All for God's greater glory!

Parish Youth Ministry

As Noehl and I were beginning our transition from serving in SFC to CFC, we were being encouraged to embrace service as youth coordinators.  But we weren't so keen on it for a number reasons.  However, we now know that serving the youth is definitely part of God's plan for us.  

Our Parish Priest, Fr. Neil Tacbas, spoke to Noehl before his service at a Sunday mass (as a lay minister) and he could only say yes before the first few notes of the entrance hymn began to play.  After the very same mass, Fr. Neil spoke to me in front of the altar and told me that Noehl had already agreed to handle the Parish Youth Ministry (PYM).  I could only respond with a smile for I knew that I had just been affirmed of God's message that the youth are the future of the church.  Fr. Neil had stated this in his homily since it was the feast of Sto. Niño.  Ironies of ironies, YFC is under PYM. Si Lord talaga!

We began our journey by meeting with Fr. Neil, Lem (PYM president) and Gab (Knights of the Altar president).  Our very good friends Mike and Iya, the newly appointed KOA coordinators, were also at the meeting.  The things to do were daunting, but we knew that God had equipped us for this.  Aside from our service with the youth in Prayer Mountain, we got to work with the PYM of San Antonio de Padua a few years back and still had contact with them.  Thanks, Lord!

Our official number of PYM members was 7.  Yes, seven out of the thousands of youth in our parish.  But we were up to the challenge.  We had pep talks and bonded as much as we could with them before our official recruitment date, March 27, 2011.  We distributed flyers after the masses at the Shrine and Filinvest Chapel inviting the youth (and their parents) to attend the PYM Orientation on April 3.  We also put up posters in the different villages.

On April 3, the good Lord brought us 36 PYM members (old and new).  Praise God!  At the launching of our monthly 2nd Sunday Youth Assembly the week after, we welcomed additional members.  The following Saturday we began choir practice with Lem at the helm.  The training of our animators also began thanks to the PYM of San Antonio.

The Holy Week has allowed the PYM members to immerse themselves in the activities of the Parish.  I hate to admit it, but it was just this year that I really participated in any Parish activity for Holy Week.  I am truly humbled by the service that our youth unselfishly offer. 

This coming Friday, April 29, we will be launching our 4th Friday Youth Assembly.  We aim for it to be a fun night out with fellow youth members getting to know more about service in the Church and God.  We pray for a good attendance and a Spirit-filled night.

 It is actually a very good year to be serving with the youth, since CBCP has declared 2011 as the Year of the Filipino Youth.  Si Lord talaga!  Gets na po namin!  Just please grant us the grace (and the strength) to do Your will with these youth that you have blessed us with.  Amen.