Around 200 youth from different organizations and schools jubilantly gathered at the NSDAPS Gymnasium on July 15 for the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu Youth Day. The SOLAR Youth Day, as the young ones call it, has been a yearly activity of the Parish Youth Ministry to unite the Youth of the Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu alongside commemorating the anniversary of our Parish Canonical creation every July.
This event gives different youth organizations from our parish a venue to introduce their organizations and to invite students from different schools to take part in serving the parish. The parish organizations such as the Obreros Dela Virgen de Aranzazu, Gawarasal, Avant Garde Singers, Tanghalang Aranzazu, Tarcisian Adorers Turno 177, Media Ministry, Ministry of Altar Servers, and partner organizations from schools such as the Young Ones for Unity and Columbian Squires were elated by the attendance of student representatives from schools such as the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School, Roosevelt College San Mateo and San Mateo Elementary School.
The program started with a prayer led by the Avant Garde Singers, followed by a lively animation performance by the Parish Youth Ministry Animators. Fr. Edwin Tirado then welcomed everyone in his opening remarks. He reminded everyone that the Youth must be active in taking part in the parish activities and also encouraged the youth to attend mass every Sunday.
Jewel Esparagoza from the Ministry for Youth Affairs of our Diocese shared the message behind our theme: “The Lord has done great things for me, Holy is His Name” (Luke 1:49). Right after the session, each organization had their time to introduce their group to invite the participants to be part of their organizations. The students, right after the introduction, got to sign up for the organization they want to get in to.
The program did not stop and end there, as the highlight of SYD this year is the Praise fest led by The Feast Marikina, where the hearts of everyone in the room were touched by the love of God through praise songs. Each of the participants sang their hearts out as they worshipped and praised God.
The event successfully achieved its objectives, which is to celebrate the Canonical Creation of our parish, to evangelize the youth by inviting them to be part of different organizations and to gather the youth from the vassal of our parish. This event just showed how we, the youth, can be united through and for Him. We may be different all in all but God’s love keeps us together, as we all offer our time and service through the ministries.
The program ended with the launching of one of the biggest projects of the Parish Youth Ministry, the Youth Jam 2017. The Parish Youth Ministry continues on its mission to bring the youth closer to Christ. (Laya Ferrer)
