The AYD History

A brief account of an Endless Journey with the Founder of a Ministry

by: Ms. Janice Roma Hebron

(from the AYD Binmaley 2003 Souvenir Program)

 

 

Premised on the relevance of rallying the young people to involve themselves in the life of the Church and to proclaim the Risen Christ in their lives His Holiness Pope John Paul II would gather at east a hundred thousand young people of various nationalities each year -- one year in Rome, coinciding with the celebration of Palm Sunday, and the next year in a country of his choice. Formally inaugurated in 1985, this series of "outside of Rome" biennial celebration would then be called the journey of the World Youth Days.

Barely a decade a decade after its inception, Manila would then earn the favor of the Pope as our country became the historic rendezvous of young pilgrims from around the globe during the observance of the 1995 World Youth Day (WYD). Scores of young hopefuls from our own Archdiocese trooped to this country's capital during that year and partook of that international gathering and journey of faith.

 

The caravan that once graced that momentous 10th World Youth Day may have come and gone, but the joy of experiencing a world-shared vision and solidarity of Christian faith leaves an imprint in the hearts and minds of our Archdiocesan youth present in that occasion. Fitting of a homecoming gesture, they would see the need to extend home the ardor of the celebration, along with the need to foster the gathering's message "As the Father sent me, so am I sending you" (John 20,21). It would be their desire to see those who had stayed home and waived the the privilege of an unforgettable presence in the WYD celebration cherish the same rewarding experience they had had.

 

This noble desire would be encouraged by Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, DD and would then give cause for the founding of an annual celebration of meaningful spiritual gathering of the youth of the Archdiocese , which would soon be called the Archdiocesan Youth Day (AYD). It was organized by the Archdiocese's seven Directors for Youth Apostolate, led by Rev. Fr. Manuel S. Bravo, Jr. and six youth leaders, most of them participants to the 1995 WYD. Although confined to the local Archdiocese front, the AYD would be by design similar with, and embody the same Christian ideals as did the 1995 WYD. but, beyond the desire to bring home a celebration and the birth of a Church -based institution, much of AYD's history would be a chronicle experiential revelation. It would be an account of Christ's vitality in the Archdiocesan Youth and how it would continuously mod them into useful media of his love, hope and faith.

 

Localizing a world attended experience

 

The first Archdiocesan Youth Day was held in this province's capital, Lingayen, on May 10, 11 and 12 1996, and was hosted by the Epiphany of Our Lord Parish. Anchoring on the same optimism and spirit of faith encountered by its organizers in the preceding WYD celebration, the gathering would defy various forms of odds and apprehensions usually identified with every beginner's venture including an unexpected midsummer storm that would occasionally whip and drench the camp sites and interrupt the schedules and activities.

 

 

 The start of what would soon be the "journey of the Archdiocesan Youth Days", the celebration led off with the theme message "You shall be my witness". (Luke 24,28). It was a three day experience of reflection, prayer and celebration. The initial activities included a grand parade mass celebrations, catechesis, testimonies, games and sports and planning and consultation b vicariate and by diocese. On the second night of the three-day event a heavy downpour conspired with the blistering wind to restrain the staging of the Way of the Cross. The storm however failed to temper the participant-campers' initial optimism as they delighted themselves in series of vigil and meaningful encounter with their fellow youth. the Unlikely but truculent phenomenon  left the celebration, by God's grace, devoid of any irreversible damages or adversities.

 

The event drew attendance of 1,528 young people from the participating 25 parishes. It elicited invaluable support and contribution from various sectors, from the Campus Ministry to private and government entities including no less than from the provincial government.

 

The first AYD celebration's dynamic and well-participated planning and consultation activity was bale to identify 10 AYD missions, to which the youth-participants committed themselves to uphold. As a landmark achievement of the AYD, this set of action plans would actualize the message of the theme and give birth to the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry (AYM).

 

Seeing a bigger fervor

 

The following year, 1997, the second AYD was hosted by the St. Dominic Parish, San Carlos City on April 11,12 and 13. It registered the most attendance in AYD history. (Around 2,000) owing to the venue's proximity to and being in the crossroad of almost all participating vicariate communities.

 

The theme of the celebration was "Teach them everything what I have commanded you" (Mt. 28,20). Most of the events and activities in the first AYD were retained with the inclusion of some activities and events, among which was the cultural presentation by each present parish. The occasion would also highlight the three-day stay of the image of Our Lady of Manaoag.

 

In that year, AYD would mark the first time a gathering would involve the youth-participants in community service, as the AYM's gesture of gratitude for the host-venue's hospitality. There, the Youth themselves became beholders to the veracity of the Christian principle that no amount of toiling or struggle is bigger than any manifestation of profound unity, faith and love as the vastness of the San Carlos City plaza and its vicinity, and the workload needed to clean up this part of the city's busy activities' mess. failed to diminish the concerted effort and desire of the AYD delegates to make the plaza a trash-free and more dignified-looking place.

 

The celebration also became a fitting opportunity and venue for the lay to impart the virtues of faith and share testimonies on the Divine Intervention. The consultation process participated in by the delegates, a regular event that would soon highlight all AYD celebrations, yielded the drafting and approval of the seven resolutions that would serve as the blueprint for the activities of the Archdiocese's celebration of the Jubilee Year 2000.

Through outpouring grace

 

The third AYD, likewise a midsummer encampment event, sat on the high terrain of the serene and predominantly hilly San Jacinto town, this province. The Saint Hyacinth Parish became the gracious host of this three-day gathering from April 24-26, 1998.

 

During that year, AYD's agenda and activities centered on the theme "The Holy Spirit will come upon you..." (Luke 1, 35). The celebration would be esteemed by its song  "In Him We Will Grow", a befitting complement to the Scripture's promise in the theme. It was also a year that saw the Ministry unabated once more by some internal and national impetus which, to some extent, could have forestalled the celebration of its AYD.

 

These turns of events included, among others, the reshuffling and reassignment of some of the Archdiocese's parish leadership, the diversion of external sector's' attention and support from the Ministry's cause towards some political and national concerns, like the National Elections and the Centennial celebration, and the onset of the perilous El Nino phenomenon. The later would seemingly, but not quite, threaten to worsen the already water-scarce condition in the relatively elevated campsite.

 

It was amidst these experience of scarcity, discomfort and uncertainty, however, that God's sustaining grace was again made manifest during that occasion, as the Holy spirit's indwelling presence sustained that sense of joy and abundance  in the youth-participant. They would radiate the firmness of their faith in their giving of testimonies and conduct of catechesis, thereby reinforcing everyone's sense of commitment to the Ministry Their commitment to community service proved propitious to the host municipality, as the youth took to nearby communities and participated in the cleansing and beautification of the national roads and minor thoroughfares, to the elation and appreciation of the townspeople. They also, in the face of the aforesaid pressures, were able to identify in the open forum and consultation of the major innovations essential to the Ministry.

 

The celebration was not without passion for cultural pride, as it also commemorated the anniversary of the country's centennial year through the rendition of home-grown dance and songs by each vicariate. The event's closing mass was graced by no less than Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, Bishop Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Youth.

 

Renewing commitment and bridging goodwill

 

Seeing the correlation between learning to accomplish more and having more sweet time to do with, the organizers decided to make  the millennium year-ending 4th AYD a four-day event, from the usual three day AYD Celebration. It was hosted by the Holy Family Parish of Sta. Barbara, on Mau 10 to 13, 1999.

 

The celebration's theme "I will rise up and go back to my Father" (Luke 15, 18) would emphasize the four day youthful encounter's mission to heed the Father's invitation to renewal and conversion. Its theme song "Babangoin Ako, Babalik Sa Aking Ama", a composition by a message-inspired home based-talent, signified the celebration's reverence of and response to this calling.

Due to its unusually extended schedule, the celebration was able to address more vital concerns of the Ministry and the Archdiocesan community, and offered the youth-participants more time for worship and fellowship. It was the event in the AYD's history that launched the Newsletter of the AYM, the "Liknaan (Na Saray Kalangoeran). It also served as a take-off point for a number of post-celebration initiatives, among which: the creation of the Archdiocesan Youth Center, a formation program, in the Archdiocese. Moreover, the forum enabled the AYM to reassess and fine-tune some intrinsic issues such as the making formal structures of the Parish Youth Ministries including its funding, and the modification of meeting schedule from a quarterly to a monthly convention.

 

The customary visit to nearby communities was not only confined to the usual community service in the like of a clean-up or beautification chore. It was, that time, one that enjoined a tree-planting activity and another more imperative agenda, which was to extend the Father's love through sharing of one's account of God's renewing power. This interactive experience of faith was capped by acts of benevolence, through the giving of gifts to identified families.

 

The holding of the celebration's "Barrio Fiesta" was perhaps the most grandeur but heart warming in this AYD experience. It was a sight to behold, as a mass of young people with their guests savored and partook of the bounty of the activities highlighted by the "Laro ng Labi". This built a bridge of attachment and goodwill between the AYD hopefuls and their host community.

 

An ongoing experience

 

From the time of its conception and the dawn for its millennium celebration, AYD would become n integral part of Christ's church realized vision. And it would continue to be such in AYD Bayambang 2000, AYD Dagupan City 2001, AYD Manaoag 2002, AYD Binmaley 2003, AYD Basista 2004. Between years of its commemoration were the opportunities for the Youth of the Archdiocese to translate into deeds and further experience, every AYD's virtues and existence.

 

Whatever each celebration's divine revelations be, they shall go in the annals of AYD history as a chapter of an endless and fruitful journey of experiencing Christ. -- the true founder of the Ministry.