The CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Youth celebrates 25 years of serving young believers this July 6 and looks forward to 25 more. Through this sign of grace, history shows us the roots of youth ministry in the Philippines.

The CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Youth celebrates 25 years of serving young believers this July 6 and looks forward to 25 more. Through this sign of grace, history shows us the roots of youth ministry in the Philippines.

Young witnesses

Even before the institution of a separate ministry for young people, the youth were already active participants in the also very young Philippine Church. This is shown through the powerful witnessing of young Catholics like Pedro Calungsod, a lay missionary, catechist and martyr.

During the 1970's and 1980’s, the Filipino youth struggled under the socio-political realities of the Marcos dictatorship. It was during this time that the Youth Committee of the Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate (ECLA) was created to address the youth's needs through studies and surveys in partnership with other schools and institutions. Youth ministry continued to grow as it developed its structure in the dioceses. Youth groups and organizations were formed.

Creation of the ECY

Soon after, youth ministers proposed the creation of a separate commission specifically for the youth during the Conference of Youth Ministers in January 1986. They gave the following reasons for such a move:

• MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION BELONGS TO THE YOUTH;

the ECLA, dominated by lay adults with their own unique needs and concerns, cannot adequately meet the particular demands of ministering to the young;

THE YOUTH AND YOUTH MINISTRY EXHIBIT UNIQUE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS—CALLING FOR A CORRESPONDING RESPONSE THAT IS CONCRETE, ADEQUATE AND COMPLETE;

the youth deserve fuller and more direct representation and participation in the Philippine Church.

DURING THE CBCP PLENARY ASSEMBLY IN JULY 1986, THE BISHOPS, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE CREATION OF THE EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON YOUTH! (KA-LAKBAY, P. 157-158) SINCE ITS BIRTH IN 1986, THE ECY ACCOMPANIED THE LIFE AND JOURNEY OF YOUTH MINISTRY, LIKE JESUS WHO ACCOMPANIED AND REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE TWO DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS.

“FULLEST ATTENTION, HIGHEST PRIORITY IN THE CHURCH”

During the term of Most. Rev. Jose Sorra, DD, the first bishop-chairman of the ECY (1986-1989), the National Youth Dayevery 16th of December and the diocesan Youth Council instituted.

IN 1991, THE SECOND PLENARY COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAIMED THEIR LOVE FOR THE YOUNG AND THE POOR BY DECREEING THAT, “SINCE THE YOUTH CONSTITUTE A LARGE AND DYNAMIC PORTION OF THE LAITY, THE YOUTH MINISTRY SHOULD BE ASSURED OF THE FULLEST ATTENTION AND HIGHEST PRIORITY IN EVERY WAY BY ALL IN THE CHURCH.” (PCP II DECREES, ARTICLE 50)

It was also during this year that the Federation of National Youth Organizations was officially founded, bringing the various youth organizations together in unity and collaboration.

ECY: A true “Ka-Lakbay”

From the WYD celebration that revived and empowered the ministry to the young, the leadership of the ECY was passed on to Most Rev. Rolando Tria-Tirona, OCD, DD (1995-2005).

Huge steps were taken to reach out to more young people. In 2002, the results of the first ever survey of Filipino Catholic youth were published, showing that the target of youth ministry are, in general:

• family-directed

HIGHLY INTERPERSONAL BUT NOT VERY SOCIETY-ORIENTED

personal but individualist in relating with God

NOMINAL IN THEIR FAITH

decreasing in their traditional appreciation of the sacraments and,

DISTANT FROM THE CHURCH’S TEACHINGS AND LIFE IN SPITE OF THEIR FEELING OF BELONGINGNESS TO HER

Youth ministry was blessed even more with the creation of KA-LAKBAY: Directory for Catholic Youth Ministry in the Philippines, in 2004.

Evangelizing the digital continent

After Bp. Tirona’s term, the ECY chairmanship was transferred to Most Rev. Joel Baylon, DD. It was during his term that our Church welcomed the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Our Lady in 2007, as part of its pilgrimage towards the WYD celebration in Sydney in 2008. We once again opened our doors to welcome young people from all over the Philippines and the entire Asian continent as we hosted the 5th Asian Youth Day in 2009, as well as the Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth 2010, hosting this event for the second time. To reach out to more young people who are active in the digital world, the ECY launched www.youthpinoy.com, the website of the Filipino Catholic youth, last 2010.

The grace of the past 25 years is magnified even more with the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth this year. As the 25th anniversary of the ECY nears, the Filipino youth can look forward to the bishops' faithfulness and steadfast love in guiding and pastoring them through the ECY.