jp2_programs

The Theological-Pastoral Framework

The 6th JP II Catechetics & Youth Ministry Conference aims at reflecting the theme on spirituality and vocation of catechists and youth ministers by focusing on the last task of catechesis according to GDC, that is missionary initiation. GDC 86 states:

Catechesis open to the missionary dimension

n Seeks to equip the disciples of Jesus to be present as Christians in society through their professional, cultural and social lives;

Prepares them to lend their cooperation to the different ecclesial services, according to their proper vocation that originates, for the lay faithful, in the sacraments of Christian initiation and in the secular character of their vocation;

Uses every means to encourage vocations to the Priesthood, and to the different forms of consecration to God in religious and apostolic life and to awaken special missionary vocations;

Nourishes the evangelical attitudes which Jesus taught his disciples when he sent them on mission: to seek out the lost sheep, proclaim and heal at the same time, to be poor, without money or knapsack; to know how to accept rejection and persecution; to place one’s trust in the Father and in the support of the Holy Spirit; to expect no other reward than the joy of working for the Kingdom.

In other words:

Catechesis does not teach the faith as an end in itself but leads the disciple to a sense of mission. This Christian mission is lived in everyday life at work, school, home or in cultural and social settings. It also leads some to a vocation to priesthood, to religious life, to ecclesial lay ministry, and to missionary work of various kinds. (Huebsch, pp. 32-33)

Hence, it is one of the fundamental tasks of catechesis to unfold the mystery of vocation and to lead the catechized to discover the seed of vocation that God the Creator plants in them as He breathes into them His spirit and creates them unto his image and likeness.

On the other hand, youth ministry considers its important responsibility to make the young meet Christ and discover how to live as Christ’s disciples according to their vocation and mission in the Church.

With this theological framework, the 6th JP II CYMC in May 2010 has as its theme:

“Fostering Vocations:

Task of Catechesis and Crown of Youth Ministry.”

Scriptural Passage:

Here am I, Lord; Speak, your servant is listening. (1 Sam 3:10)

May it be done to me according to your word. (Luke 1:38)

Two passages serve as inspiration for the theme of 6th JP II CYMC: “Fostering Vocations: Task of Catechesis and Crown of Youth Ministry.”

The first is from the Old Testament, the first book of Samuel. It is the answer of Samuel to God’s call. The second is from the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke; it is also an answer, that of Mary to the call of God through the angel.

Both Samuel and Mary were young. God called them even when they were still just beginning to know life. Calling them at a young age, God showed how much he trusts and loves the young. God calls everyone in fact at the start of one’s life. As we are created, we are called to be and to live as images of God. The first and universal vocation begins with our birth.

The response of both Samuel and Mary was a total YES to God who called. Their answer was beyond their power as they were young. Yet their Yes was filled with love and trust such that they completely surrendered themselves to God. Their answer was such because they were youthful and could abandon themselves to God with complete trust. “Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Samuel became a great prophet; Mary became the first evangelized and evangelizer. Samuel was for Israel who at that time was like a flock without a shepherd. Mary was for Israel and for all humanity who was tasked to be the mother of the Savior of the world. In whatever task we are called by God, whenever and wherever God calls us, like Samuel and Mary, God calls us for a noble mission: to evangelize, to proclaim the Good News of salvation.

Conference Themes for Catechists and Youth Ministers

Participants are invited to reflect on the theme on fostering vocations with the iter below:

As the Word of God is the primary source of catechesis, the plenary conference on the first day will present the theme of vocation and its nuances (vocations) in the light of the Scripture and the teachings of the Church.

Hence, the theme for the first day is:

Vocation and Vocations from the Biblical Perspective

and Church Teachings

From the Word of God the reflection on fostering vocations shifts to the human experience, “which when assumed by faith, becomes in a certain manner, a locus for the manifestation and realization of salvation, where God, consistently with the pedagogy of the Incarnation, reaches man with his grace and saves him” (GDC 152, c).

On the second day, a panel of sharers from various walks of life will tell how they live their daily life as their response to the vocation God has given them. A facilitator will wrap up the various sharings with his own personal experience.

Hence, the theme for the second day is:

Living One’s Daily Life in the Mystery of Vocation

Finally on the third and last day of the conference, the reflection on fostering vocations will focus on the call and mission basic to every Christian: to evangelize. “Those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by the love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world.” (CCC 3)

Hence, the theme for the third and last day is:

In the Variety of Vocations, among the Diversity of Responses,

Basic to Every Baptized: the Call to Evangelize

Themes for Youth and Youth Leaders

A new feature of the 6th JP II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conference is the youth leaders’ section. Youth leaders from parishes and some youth from various sectors are invited to join the formation program of the catechists and youth ministers. However, for the daily plenary conference in the morning the youth participants are given a set of reflections proper to their age and context.

1st Day: Reflecting on the Parable of the Rich Young Man:

preparing the ground for vocation

The first day will have as its focus vocation in general from the perspective of a call from God which demands a Christian response or discipleship from us in whatever state of life. We shall reflect upon the Word of God specifically on the Parable of the Rich Young Man (Mark 10: 17-22) using a historico-critical approach.

In Mark 10: 22 we find the young man unable to accept the invitation of Jesus to give up his many possessions, take up his cross and follow the Lord.

Hence, we shall also look into the pastoral implications of this parable for the youth and youth leaders in terms of how we can prepare the ground work for the young to be able to respond to God’s invitation of discipleship.

2nd Day: Discernment of One’s Vocation

The second day will focus on guiding the young and youth leaders in discerning their vocation in life understood as states of life.

The reflection will focus on the understanding of the necessary prerequisites for a good discernment as well as the process needed to make the right discernment using the Ignatian method (SpEx 135ff).

3rd Day: In the Variety of Vocations, Diversity of Responses,

Basic to Every Baptized: the call to evangelize

Finally on the third and last day of the conference, the reflection on fostering vocations will focus on the call and mission basic to every Christian: To evangelize “Those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by the love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world” (CCC 3).

Themes for the Liturgy

1^st Day: 5 May 2010 (Wednesday)

Opening Eucharist: Mass for Fostering Vocations

Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, DD

Archbishop of Cebu

Theme: Samuel and Mary: models in recognizing and responding to vocation

“Here am I Lord; speak, your servant is listening.

Let it be done to me according to your word.”

2^nd Day: 6 May 2010 (Thursday)

Feast of St. Dominic Savio – Model of Youth

Bishop Roberto Mallari, DD

Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga

Theme: Doing Ordinary Duties in an Extraordinary Way – the basic way to live in the spirit of answering one’s vocation day by day

“Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Dominic Savio is a modern youth who answered God’s call like Samuel and Mary. Trusting in Don Bosco whom he considered as sent by God to guide him, he expressed his total Yes to God by living his ordinary life in an extraordinary way every day.

3^rd day: 7 May 2010 (Friday)

Concluding Eucharist: Votive Mass for the Sacred Heart; First Friday of May

Bishop Honesto Pacana, SJ, DD

Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Theme: Praying for the Priests – First Catechists & Youth Ministers in the Parishes

“Go make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

SCHEDULE

May 5, 2010 • Wednesday

7:00 am Registration

8:00-10:00 Welcome

Eucharistic Celebration

H.E. Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, DD

Archbishop of Cebu

10:30 Conference

12:00 noon Lunch

1:00-5:00 pm Workshops

5:30 Taizé Prayer

May 6, 2010 • Thursday

8:00-10:00 am Eucharistic Celebration

Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, DD

Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga

10:30 Conference

12:00 noon Lunch

1:00-5:00 pm Workshops

5:30 Youth Festival

May 7, 2010 • Friday

8:00-10:00 am Eucharistic Celebration

Most Rev. Honesto Pacana, SJ, DD

Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

10:30 Conference

12:00 noon Lunch

1:00-5:00 pm Workshops

5:30 Flower Offering

Barrio Fiesta