KIM EVANGELINE A. OKOL
The youth of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (ALD) gathered in PHINMA-University of Pangasinan gymnasium on September 7-8 to participate in this year’s Marian Vigil.
This year’s Marian Vigil is hosted by the Annunciation of the Lord Parish with the theme, “Children of Mary, Children of Mercy.” The vigil held lots of activities for the youth of the ALD. The program included a short procession from the UPang old stage to the gym, catechesis with praise and worship, ‘Sulat Awit Para kay Inang Maria’ – song-making contest, birthday countdown and birthday bash, praying of the Rosary, Taize Vigil, and a closing mass lead by the ALD Archbishop Most Reverend Socrates B. Villegas.
Different parish youth ministries and Catholic schools from the ALD participated for this year’s Marian Vigil, and here are some of their insights and favorite parts of the event!
“After the event, seriously, I just wanted to sleep. I just woke up and realize something...that I must be lowly and humble, understanding, and have more patience to all people around me because of what Mama Mary did when she was alive.Countdown, and after that, the rosary praying was my favorite part of this event because the devotees were such excited to celebrate Her birthday. The Church loves Mama Mary and all people should love her as we love her Son, Jesus Christ!” – Jenny Castaño, Youth Lector-Commentator
“Well na observe ko na dahil sa talk mas lalo akong napamahal kay Mama Mary dahil sa lahat ng nagawa niya para sa atin, tinuruan niya po tayong manalig sa kanyang anak. Favorite part ko yung talk ng kasama ni Bo Sanchez. (Well, I have observed that after the talk, my Love for Mama Mary became more intense because of everything She has done for us. She taught us to have faith to her child. My favorite part was Bo Sanchez’ talk.)” – Kysser Obano, Youth Altar Server
“Siguro ang narealize ko nalang is ang dami pa ‘ring kabataan na Katoliko na solid, alam mo ‘yun. Iba na kasi generation ngaun, Technology na. Yung tipong dami na ng distractions. Pero at least up until now, mga kabataan pa ‘rin na ganun yung sumasama nag-cecelebrate sa birthday ni Mama Mary. Tapos Masaya sila ganun. Fave part siyempre ung umpisa nagwoworship at ung Taize. (I have realized that there are still lots of devoted Catholic Youth despite all of the distractions. At least, the Youth are still here to celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday. My favorite part of course is the worship and the Taize.)” – Kit Fernandez, Youth Lector-Commentator
“After our Marian Vigil celebration, there are so many changes in my life. Natulungan ako para hanapin ang katahimikan sa gitna ng kaingayan ng mga kabataang nagtipon-tipon. Natuto ako on how to listen carefully to the speaker na hindi hinahayaang madistract sa kung anumang evil things. (It helped me to seek an inner peace despite the noise of all the youth who gathered there. I learned how to listen carefully to the speaker without the distraction of any evil things.) My favorite part of this event was the Holy Eucharist.” – Joyce Eden Perez, Youth Ministry
“After Marian Vigil na-feel ko na sobrang blessed ko dahil first time kong naging parte ng pag-cecelebrate ng birthday ni Mama Mary. Nung nakinig ako ng talk ni kuya Barz narealize ko na sobrang mahal pala tayo ng Diyos kahit may mga mali na tayong nagagawa sa ibang tao. Kaya bago matapos ang talk ni kuya Barz, pinalabas sa amin ang cellphone namin at itext ang mga taong nasaktan mo at mga taong mahal mo sa buhay na ‘GOD IS MERCIFUL, GOD LOVES YOU’. Ang pinakapaborito kong parte ng marian vigil ay ‘yong countdown sa birthday ni Mama Mary. Nakita ko na halos lahat na-eexcite sa pag countdown ng birthday ni Mama Mary. Yung ibang parish may dala pa talaga silang props na may nakasulat na ‘Happy Birthday Mama Mary’ at yung iba may dala pang balloons and sa sobrang saya lahat ng tao doon ay sumayaw at nagsigawan ng ‘Happy Birthday!!’ After non, may candle lightning at sinabayan pa ng kantang For GOD So Love the World and mafefeel mo talga yung presence ni Mama Mary dahil mapapaiyak ka habang kinakanta yon. (After Marian Vigil, I feel very blessed because it was my first time to celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday. While listening to kuya Barz’ talk, I realized that God loves us so much that even though we commit sins. After kuya Barz’ talk, he asked us to send ‘God is merciful, God loves us’ through message to the people whom we love or hurt. My most favorite part of the Marian Vigil is the countdown to Mama Mary’s Birthday. I have seen everyone very excited, there were even some Parishes who brought props that wrote ‘Happy Birthday Mama Mary’ in it. There were also balloons, and everyone is very happy and dancing. Candles were also lit as we sang ‘For God So Love the World’. I cried because I really felt the presence of Mama Mary.)” – Karl Ballesteros, Youth Lector-Commentator
Levy Cerezo, St. John the Evangelist Parish youth ministry coordinator said in an interview that the youth is the life of the church and that they are going to be the next priests, nuns, and servers, who will organize such events like the Marian Vigil for the coming generations.
This year’s Marian Vigil is hosted by the Annunciation of the Lord Parish with the theme, “Children of Mary, Children of Mercy.” The vigil held lots of activities for the youth of the ALD. The program included a short procession from the UPang old stage to the gym, catechesis with praise and worship, ‘Sulat Awit Para kay Inang Maria’ – song-making contest, birthday countdown and birthday bash, praying of the Rosary, Taize Vigil, and a closing mass lead by the ALD Archbishop Most Reverend Socrates B. Villegas.
Different parish youth ministries and Catholic schools from the ALD participated for this year’s Marian Vigil, and here are some of their insights and favorite parts of the event!
“After the event, seriously, I just wanted to sleep. I just woke up and realize something...that I must be lowly and humble, understanding, and have more patience to all people around me because of what Mama Mary did when she was alive.Countdown, and after that, the rosary praying was my favorite part of this event because the devotees were such excited to celebrate Her birthday. The Church loves Mama Mary and all people should love her as we love her Son, Jesus Christ!” – Jenny Castaño, Youth Lector-Commentator
“Well na observe ko na dahil sa talk mas lalo akong napamahal kay Mama Mary dahil sa lahat ng nagawa niya para sa atin, tinuruan niya po tayong manalig sa kanyang anak. Favorite part ko yung talk ng kasama ni Bo Sanchez. (Well, I have observed that after the talk, my Love for Mama Mary became more intense because of everything She has done for us. She taught us to have faith to her child. My favorite part was Bo Sanchez’ talk.)” – Kysser Obano, Youth Altar Server
“Siguro ang narealize ko nalang is ang dami pa ‘ring kabataan na Katoliko na solid, alam mo ‘yun. Iba na kasi generation ngaun, Technology na. Yung tipong dami na ng distractions. Pero at least up until now, mga kabataan pa ‘rin na ganun yung sumasama nag-cecelebrate sa birthday ni Mama Mary. Tapos Masaya sila ganun. Fave part siyempre ung umpisa nagwoworship at ung Taize. (I have realized that there are still lots of devoted Catholic Youth despite all of the distractions. At least, the Youth are still here to celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday. My favorite part of course is the worship and the Taize.)” – Kit Fernandez, Youth Lector-Commentator
“After our Marian Vigil celebration, there are so many changes in my life. Natulungan ako para hanapin ang katahimikan sa gitna ng kaingayan ng mga kabataang nagtipon-tipon. Natuto ako on how to listen carefully to the speaker na hindi hinahayaang madistract sa kung anumang evil things. (It helped me to seek an inner peace despite the noise of all the youth who gathered there. I learned how to listen carefully to the speaker without the distraction of any evil things.) My favorite part of this event was the Holy Eucharist.” – Joyce Eden Perez, Youth Ministry
“After Marian Vigil na-feel ko na sobrang blessed ko dahil first time kong naging parte ng pag-cecelebrate ng birthday ni Mama Mary. Nung nakinig ako ng talk ni kuya Barz narealize ko na sobrang mahal pala tayo ng Diyos kahit may mga mali na tayong nagagawa sa ibang tao. Kaya bago matapos ang talk ni kuya Barz, pinalabas sa amin ang cellphone namin at itext ang mga taong nasaktan mo at mga taong mahal mo sa buhay na ‘GOD IS MERCIFUL, GOD LOVES YOU’. Ang pinakapaborito kong parte ng marian vigil ay ‘yong countdown sa birthday ni Mama Mary. Nakita ko na halos lahat na-eexcite sa pag countdown ng birthday ni Mama Mary. Yung ibang parish may dala pa talaga silang props na may nakasulat na ‘Happy Birthday Mama Mary’ at yung iba may dala pang balloons and sa sobrang saya lahat ng tao doon ay sumayaw at nagsigawan ng ‘Happy Birthday!!’ After non, may candle lightning at sinabayan pa ng kantang For GOD So Love the World and mafefeel mo talga yung presence ni Mama Mary dahil mapapaiyak ka habang kinakanta yon. (After Marian Vigil, I feel very blessed because it was my first time to celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday. While listening to kuya Barz’ talk, I realized that God loves us so much that even though we commit sins. After kuya Barz’ talk, he asked us to send ‘God is merciful, God loves us’ through message to the people whom we love or hurt. My most favorite part of the Marian Vigil is the countdown to Mama Mary’s Birthday. I have seen everyone very excited, there were even some Parishes who brought props that wrote ‘Happy Birthday Mama Mary’ in it. There were also balloons, and everyone is very happy and dancing. Candles were also lit as we sang ‘For God So Love the World’. I cried because I really felt the presence of Mama Mary.)” – Karl Ballesteros, Youth Lector-Commentator
Levy Cerezo, St. John the Evangelist Parish youth ministry coordinator said in an interview that the youth is the life of the church and that they are going to be the next priests, nuns, and servers, who will organize such events like the Marian Vigil for the coming generations.