Cebu City (Philippines). From 27 June to 02 July 2023, the young people of the Philippine Salesian Youth Movement of the Provinces of St. Mary D. Mazzarello (FIL) of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; St. John Bosco (FIN) and Mary Help of Christians (FIS) of the Salesians of Don Bosco, gathered at Don Bosco Retreat House in Lawaan, Cebu City, for the 2023 National Assembly Days (NADS).
NADS are held every three years to plan the three-year period of the unified SYM journey of the three Provinces. The 2023 theme was “Padayon”, a Cebuan word meaning “continue”.
Each Province was represented by 20 delegates: animators, coordinators, and youth leaders, to whom were added Sr. Debbie Ponsaran, FMA, Provincial Coordinator of Youth Ministry; Sr. Joralyn Selloria, FMA, SYM Coordinator; Fr. Fidel Orendain, Provincial of the Province FIS; Fr. Rooney Undar, SDB, FIS Youth Ministry Delegate; Fr. Ramil Maranan, SDB, SYM FIN Delegate; and Fr. Vince Michael Sabal, SDB, SYM FIS Delegate.
At the opening of the meeting, the Delegates, Sr. Debbie and Fr. Vince, introduced some themes of Salesianity: the life of Don Bosco, the Salesians, and the Salesian Works worldwide and in the Philippines. The following day, Fr. Juvelan Paul Samia, SDB, presented the fundamental points of the Salesian Youth Movement. A series of formative moments followed by Fr. Fidel, who highlighted the A.S.K. – Attitude, Ability, and Knowledge of a Salesian animator. Finally, Fr. Rooney, together with Mrs. Arrianne of the FIS Secretariat, illustrated to the participants the demographic data concerning the young people of the Salesian realities.
To learn more about the current situation of today’s young people, some representatives of each province were asked to report the situation relating to E-PEST, an acronym which stands for Ecclesial, Political, Economic, Social, and Technological. Subsequently, space was left for debate.
Gathering the fruitful sharing and insights, the One SYM Coordination Team then met to plan the activities at the national and local levels and drafted the NADS 2023 Manifesto:
“We, NADS 2023 Delegates, rooted in Salesian Youth Spirituality, recognize the different existing youth situations, such as political issues, gender inclusiveness, the need for Salesian accompaniment in some contexts; the new realities in the post-pandemic era that have weakened the motivation of young people and aroused in them confusion and fatigue regarding their Catholic identity, psychological health, socio-economic poverty; and the influence of social media.
We believe that, being a Movement centered on Christ, we must accompany our peers to deepen and celebrate our Christian faith by joyfully bearing witness to the Gospel.
Therefore, we are committed to serving young people as missionary disciples, walking together with young people to discover their vocation, to be morally upright, responsible, and technologically competent, and to ensure a safe environment for all through the help of our Blessed Mother.”
In addition to work and preparation, the young people also had a party, an animation show, and moments of fraternity at Simala and Casay Beach, Dalaguete.
NADS 2023 concluded with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the FIS Provincial, Fr. Fidel Orendain, who encouraged the participants to go forward by first changing themselves and then their respective realities. And now, PADAYON!
