Redemptorist holds first ever Alphonsian Youth Mission Day in Albay

About 120 young missionaries from across the country gathered for the 1st Alphonsian Youth Mission Day held in Legazpi City, Albay on April 27 to 30.

Organized by the Redemptorist Youth Mission (RYM) Manila, the participants came from the various apostolic units and mission areas of the Redemptorists including the Prelature of Marawi.

Organizers said it was a 3-day sharing of experiences in the area of youth ministry and deepening of their Alphonsian spirituality and Redemptorist charism.

“Allow the youth to be youth”, exhorted by Fr. Ariel Lubi, CSsR, the Superior of the Redemptorist Vice Province of Manila during the event’s opening Mass April 27.

As part of the activities, the participants also visited and did charity works in Brgys. Mi-isi and Salvacion of Daraga, Albay, two of the many villages affected by the recent Mayon Volcano eruption. 

The event reflected on the theme”One RYM: Gathered with a Vision, Sent for a Mission”, which captures the desire of the Redemptorist Youth Missionaries to be in solidarity with God’s mission especially to the youth of today’s generation.

Also present during of the event, showing their support to the youth in general and to RYM in particular, were Fr. Conegundo Garganta, the Executive Secretary of CBCP Commission on Youth, Fr. Copernicus Perez, CSsR, the Superior of the Redemptorist Province of Cebu, Fr. Julius Martin Malacas, CSsR, the youth director of RYM Cebu and other local youth directors of RYM VP Manila. 

In his thanksgiving speech, Fr. Rico Bilangel, C.Ss.R of RYM said: “The youth have spoken, we have been heard. Now it is time for us to listen to what the Lord is telling us.”

“We have been gathered with a desire to be heard, with a vision to be the youth that the Lord hoped us to be. It is now our moment to be sent back to wherever the Lord has called us to go, with a mission to be faithful to our identity… Redemptorist Youth Missionaries!” he said.