Summer camp mission accomplished: Bringing the youth back to Church
Youth gathered at Junction, Pinukpuk, Kalinga. RUSTY MENDOZA
MANILA – A wave of summer camps facilitated by the pastoral center Bukal ng Tipan aims to build a “participatory Church,” one where the youth are vibrant and active members of the community.
Aligned with the Year the Parish theme “Communion of Communities”, the youth camps, seminars, and workshops targeted a wide range of participants: from elementary to young professionals, encouraging “youth participation not only in the parish church but [in] smaller Christian communities in different venues over the summer break.”
In one of the said summer camps, almost 80 youth from different parishes of Kalinga and Apayao joined the three-day “Color and Faith: Summer Youth Camp on Communion of Communities” held from March 30 to April 2 at the Chair of St. Peter Parish in Pinukpok with Fr. Joseph Pumihic, CICM.
‘Tribal communion’
With the theme “Being at Home in the Parish as Communion of Communities,” Bishop Jun Andaya, CICM, reminded the youth that no home is bigger than the Church. Coming home to the Church as a communion of communities refers to everyone’s faith in one God.
Andrew Velasquez, pastoral worker for the Youth Unit of Bukal ng Tipan, shared about the socio-cultural impact of the summer camp in Kalinga .
“Tribal war is strong in Kalinga culture, but the youth camp became an instrument of the ‘tribal communion,’ he shared.
Velasquez added: “…The participants became more aware of their roots, values, dreams, and love for their family in this post-modern life.”
More camps
Their team also organized a Lenten summer camp also with the theme “Communion of Communities,” with the Amadeo Youth. The event focused on strengthening a community by recognizing every person’s value and God-given worth.
“Up, Up, and Away: Paliparan Youth Summer Camp on Communion of Communities” also shared the same objective.
In partnership with CICM priests Fr. Gary Brazas and Fr. Robertus Bijaksana, an Emmaus leadership training was held on April 28 to 30 at the San Isidro Parish, Afga Sibagat, Mindanao.
Bukal ng Tipan also ran a program from May 4 to 7 that trained young adults how to face the future through an on-the-road retreat called the “Outbound Limits Singles Journey: Byaheng Norte.”
The same group also facilitated the following summer camps:
- Youth Summer Camp on Communion of Communities with the San Isidro Parish, Montalban, Rizal;
- Youth Summer Camp on Amoris with the St. Michael The Archangel Parish at Simbalan, Mindanao;
- Community Journey: One Heart, One Soul Summer Youth Camp for the St. Joseph Dagupan Parish Youth Ministry, Tabuk Kalinga (Kate Dolot/CBCPNews)
