DAVAO City, Aug. 28, 201—Young people from all over the world will once again have the opportunity to have an encounter with the Pope at next year’s World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow, Poland and young Davaoeños will not miss this chance.
The Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (DAYCA) organized an orientation for interested applicants on Aug. 24, at the San Pedro Cathedral Parish Social Hall. DAYCA’s Director, Fr. Leomel Puerto spearheaded the orientation.
According to him, the Archdiocese of Davao through DAYCA will send delegates or pilgrims to the youth encounter in Poland which reflects on the theme “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
Krakow, home of JPII
He added youth ministers, members of parish youth apostolate and organizations can qualify to be WYD delegates as they can secure their application forms from DAYCA and submit them on or before Sept. 28.
First time applicant, Julius Neil Piala said he is excited to experience Christ’s presence through his encounter with the young people from different parts of the world together with the head of the Church, Pope Francis on July 25 to 31, 2016.
It can be remembered that Krakow is the home of St. John Paul II, the one who instituted the World Youth Day in Dec. 20, 1985 with the first official World Youth Day happening in 1986.
Though he has already seen the pope in flesh when he came to the Philippines for his apostolic visit last Jan. 15 to 19, seeing him again will be a grace that he will gladly accept with gratitude.
Former youth animator Marjorie Joy Olea attended the WYD in Brazil in 2013. The campus minister said her experience was very unforgettable as it is the first WYD that Pope Francis attended after he his election to the papacy.
‘Life-changing’
“It was life-changing. My faith was deepened and I get to learn from the experiences of my fellow young people,” Olea said.
She added that she is excited to have another chance to join the WYD and re-echo her
experiences to the young people of the Archdiocese of Davao.
Interested applicants may like the DAYCA Facebook page for information and updates.
DAYCA is the official coordinating body for all Catholic youth groups, ministries/apostolates or movements in the Archdiocese of Davao. (John Frances C. Fuentes / CBCP News)