Youth olympics promotes vocations

Youth olympics promotes vocations

Some 250 youth ministers and volunteers of the Diocese of Sorsogon gathered from May 5 to 6 in prayer, fun, and games, for this year’s vocation-themed Youth Olympics. DARRYL MCLIFE BORJA

By Fr. Philippe A. B. Gallanosa

May 14, 2018

Sorsogon

Some 250 youth ministers and volunteers of the Diocese of Sorsogon gathered from May 5 to 6 in prayer, fun, and games, for this year’s vocation-themed Youth Olympics.

#DYO2018 was held at the Parish of the Our Lady of the Pillar, Pilar, Sorsogon, carrying the theme “The Youth Ministry: Nurturing Vocations to the Priestly and Religious Life,” in line with the Church in the Philippines’ jubilee preparations.

Jeep-loads of youth arrived that Saturday for the 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church. They were each given a passport-like document, which they could fill up with names and contacts of their new-found friends. Inside the passport was a paper plane with a written invitation to try out a priestly or religious vocation.

According to Fr. Randy Gimeno, chair of the Diocesan Commission on Youth, the objectives of the #DYO2018 are to form stronger bonds between and among the youth in the diocese; to provide the youth a venue to make friends with the same faith, love, and vision of the local Church through sports; and to raise awareness about the vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

After the concelebrated Mass presided over by Msgr. del Prado, together with Gimeno, Fr. Dean Simon Peña, the vicarial coordinator of the Commission on Youth from Bulan, Sorsogon, and Fr. Philippe Andrew B. Gallanosa, commission head of the Media for Evangelization, there was a short parade, an opening program, and the start of the games.

The entire weekend, youth from the vicariates of Bulan, Irosin, Pilar, Sorsogon, and from the DFYO battled it out in men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games, indoor games, and “Laro ng Lahi” events. Gimeno led the closing and thanksgiving Mass on Sunday, the 6th of Easter, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pilar Parish Church.

While games were being played and snacks and refreshments were served at the two main game areas, the Pilar Covered Court and the Pilar Central School, priests from the parishes would check in and cheer for their participants, as did Fr. Pol Lagco of Irosin, Fr. Noel Listana of the Cathedral, and still others.

The Pilar parish itself, thanks to its pastor, Msgr. Gerry del Prado, and associate pastor, Fr. Jupe Garalde, hosted many participants from four of the five vicariates and the Federation of Diocesan Youth Organizations (FDYO). Many Pilareño families and households also opened their doors to their youthful guests.