YouthPinoy | Website for Filipino Catholic Youth

MINDANAO WELCOMED THE NATIONAL YOUTH CROSS

By: Neil Beluan

CABUSTAM Youth Leader

The National Youth Cross is in Mindanao!

MAY 11, 2011. The young people of Surigao City gathered early in the morning with flags and banners to welcome the landing of the National Youth Cross to the Diocese that marked the start of its pilgrimage to the great island of Mindanao. Headed by Fr. Roland S. Omatang, Regional Youth Director of the Central-Eastern Visayas Region, a whole force of the youth council arrived at Lipata Sea Terminal-Surigao City, The festive reception at the port was followed by a procession of the Cross to San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral of Surigao where the solemn hand-over and enthronement of the cross took place. The Cross is officially received by Fr. Joseph Cantilado, DYD of Surigao, and some officers of the diocesan youth council. Mr. Neil Beluan and Sr. Maria Fe Abestano, FSPif represented the Sub-Regional Youth Council of CABUSTAM  to receive the Cross. With gestures of veneration to the National Youth Cross, the youth from Visayas became tearful as they bid farewell to the holy icon. They expressed that the cross had somehow became attached to them because it provided reason for the young people in their dioceses to gather and be united once again. They also shared  stories about miracles they had witnessed which significantly attributed to the Cross.

The National Youth Cross which is painted with colorful images captured attention to the youth as it stand out to be different from most of the conventional crosses. Fr. Omatang provided explanation of the meaning of the drawings on the National Youth Cross which is inspired from the gospel story of the “walk to Immaus”, but with a twist since the images of young Filipinos are the ones portrayed instead of the ‘two disciples’. He also added that the pilgrimage of this cross is  in celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth. The said pilgrimage of the Cross wishes to bring message of hope to the young people all over the country.

After the pilgrimage of the cross in Surigao, the National Youth Cross will travel to other ecclesiastical territories of Mindanao-Sulu Regions and will stay in every diocese/vicariate/prelature  for three days long and will culminate in the Archdiocese of Davao  on  July  9-11,2011.