LIVING up to its commitment to take an active role in the life and mission of the Church, the San Roque Youth Ministry participated in all of the parish Holy Week activities. Fr. Allan Cabatian, OAR, Pastor of San Roque Parish assigned the youth to take the lead in liturgical ceremonies and events.
On the eve of Palm Sunday, youth gathered at the parish social hall to prepare palm arrangements for distribution to Palm Sunday Mass-goers.
After the Mass on Palm Sunday, CCD Confirmation students together with some altar servers went around the island to visit all churches and pray the Stations of the Cross. This Holy Week pilgrimage touched the heart of Camille Manzanades, a Confirmation student. She was so happy to share this faith experience with her CCD batchmates. She said, “While praying the Stations of the Cross, I gained a lot of knowledge about how Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins”.
On Holy Wednesday, during the Chrism Mass at Mount Carmel Cathedral, they were there in full- force to witness the priests’ renewal of vows and blessing of the Holy Oils. Nathaley Smith, a Confirmation student, remarked: “It was my first time to attend a Chrism Mass. It was very meaningful to see all the priests renewing their vows. Also, it was so important for us to wit- ness the blessing of the Holy Oils and learning their significance to our faith especially the oil that will be used on our Confirmation Day.”
After attending the Seven Last Words on Good Friday, the youth led the praying of the Stations of the Cross around San Roque Village.
It was an “all-youth event” on the Easter Vigil Mass. Fr. Allan, OAR made sure that the assigned readers, psalmists, commentator, collectors and choir were Youth Ministry members. They took the front seats and led the congregation in the liturgy.
As done every year, the Confirmation Class sponsored the Easter Egg-Hunt. Chaired by Tasi Camacho and Limbert Guiao, they prepared the eggs and scattered them around the church grounds. Children aged 3-10 years old enjoyed the activity. Cash prizes and goodies were given to finders of the gold, silver and jumbo eggs. It was a very successful event to wrap up the Holy Week!
