National Youth Day held in southern Philippines for the first time
by Santosh Digal

The event begins today till November 12. Prayers, reflections and singing will bring together some 10,000 young people in Davao.


Davao (AsiaNews) – The five-day National Youth Day (NYD) opened today in Davao, for the first in the southern part of the country. More than 10,000 young Catholics will take part in the event organised by the Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in association with the archdiocese of Davao. The theme of the mass gathering is "You Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," (Psalm, 119: 5).
Mgr. Fernando Capalla, archbishop of Davao, has called on everyone, religious or laity, to pray for the event's success. The gathering will include singing, prayers, Eucharistic celebrations and conferences.

The CBCP began National Youth Day back in 1986 as a way of implementing its preferential apostolate for children and youth.

From 1987 to 1990, the NYD was always held in Manila. Since 1991, however, it has been celebrated in different dioceses of the country.