Real happiness is found only in living faithfully one’s faith in God and not in the pursuit of worldly pleasures, a Catholic bishop told young people, as the Church celebrated World Youth Day on April 1.
“God is the source of true joy, not worldly pleasures,” said Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas, SDB, in an interview at the Church-run Radio Veritas during the Local World Youth Day (LWYD) celebration last April 1.
“In this generation, young people are happy. But the happiness they are experiencing are mere material things, not the happiness that is experienced with God. Faith in God is the source of true joy. I think, a young person will experience the true meaning of joy and happiness if he/she will believe and trust in God,” Cantillas said.
Cantillas emphasized that young people must learn and embrace the Catholic faith to gain a deeper understanding and renewed interest on God’s words and Church teachings.
“So the Holy Father is clearly telling us to be firm in our faith, especially the young people. In order to make a stand, we must have a strong faith to God,” he said.
“[For the youth] to stand firm in the faith and for the Church, we bishops and priests are making programs for the youth [to] make them strong in their faith and where they will learn more about it. The youth programs will help them [become] firm according to the will of God,” he added.
The bishop also expressed that there are lots of things that the Church and the youth must do to be firm in the faith. This is the challenge that is addressed to the youth.
Cantillas pointed out the difference of today’s youth apostolate than that of his generation.
“The youth apostolate during our time is different from the youth apostolate in this generation. There are lots of ‘gimmicks’ or programs for the youth nowadays, but the good ‘gimmick’ for the youth are the social concern or social works,” the bishop said.
He went on to share his own experience of youth apostolate when he was a young student.
“During my high school days, I was a student at the Don Bosco Cebu; at that time, it was known as Cebu boy’s town. There was a Salesian priest who was very social minded. He established a program every Sunday where students will go to a certain squatter area to organize games, catechism, and mass. We were 20 boys who [went] to the area, organized games for the children, [taught] them catechism and brought them to mass,” he shared.
“It was really a sacrifice for me but I was happy. [Despite our need of rest] during Sundays, or [spend the day for] home visit or fun times with siblings, we were in the area to give some time to the children there. The said experience made me happy and I liked it. That’s why I became a priest and a bishop, to carry on the work that was started there for the youth,” he added. (Jandel Posion)
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