Last Monday, Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez presided and gave a send-off blessing during the 6 AM mass at Mt. Carmel Cathedral, for three youths from Saipan who will be attending the 34th International World Youth Day in Panama. Tiava Aldan To’omata from St. Jude Parish, Eloise Rose Enrico Lopez from Kristo Rai Parish, and Edward S. Dela Cruz, Jr. from Mt. Carmel Cathedral will travel to Panama to join hundreds of thousands of youths who will gather for this event.
“I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” (Lk 1:38) is the theme that Pope Francis chose for this year’s International Youth gathering. This verse comes from the Gospel of St. Luke, where the Blessed Virgin Mary gave her ‘fiat’ to the annunciation of the Angel Gabriel; that she was to conceive and bear a son whom she would call Jesus.
The World Youth Day is a festive event where youth from all over the world gather to celebrate their faith, and encounter a special meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. It is in this meeting where the youth receive a word of hope, usually inspiring them to keep their faith enkindled.
More than 200,000 participants from over 150 countries will converge in Panama City Cinta Costera from January 22nd to the 27th. On this week, Panama City will be the youngest city in the world when the streets will be crowded by young people filled with joy and excitement. Youth from every country and of every culture greeting one another in peace, trading souvenirs, and dancing and singing praises of thanks to our Lord. Here the youth feel strengthened to see so many other young people who share their beliefs. It is impossible for one to not be mesmerized by the colorful sea of different flags being waved proudly in the air, representing each pilgrim assemblage and their country. To encounter a WYD pilgrimage first hand is truly a thing of beauty and one a pilgrim will be sure to hold dearly at heart.
Saipan is privileged to be able to send a small delegation to represent CNMI in this year’s WYD. Tiava Aldan To’omata shared, “I am humbled and I feel very grateful for this opportunity!” She considers the event to be a spiritual retreat where she can further her faith and knowledge in hopes of coming back and sharing it with her fellow youth in the dioceses. To’omata has finished three years as an altar server and master of ceremony at St Jude, and she now teaches the pre-confirmation class at her parish. One of her goals of going on the WYD pilgrimage is to help rejuvenate and inspire the youth to become more involved in the church.
Eloise Rose Enrico Lopez also shared the same excitement, saying how she’s amazed at the thought of being able to attend this WYD event in Panama. Lopez expressed how she had always wished to go to one of these international youth gatherings. “Now is my chance to know more about my beliefs”, she said. Lopez is the youth ministry coordinator at her parish and she wishes to share whatever she learns on the pilgrimage with the youth of her church, in addition those who want to learn more about the word of God.
The WYD pilgrimages have been a catalyst for many vocational callings and as pilgrims prepare for Panama 2019, they are reminded to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose figure is at the heart of this year’s World Youth Day. The youths are urged to keep this year’s theme, in encouragement to open up their hearts and surrender freely to the Lord’s will as Mary did with her unconditional “yes,” and by their example, becoming a leading light for others. In his message to the three youths during the send-off Mass, Bishop Ryan said that God is calling them to go there and witness the whole event and somehow bring back their experiences and share it with the youth of Saipan.
The three pilgrims are scheduled to leave on the morning of January 20th and will be returning back to Saipan on January 31st.
