NATIONAL YOUTH DAY. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (center) tries the National Youth Day 2019 mobile applications "Kaabay" and "Pedro's Journey" in his smartphone during the launching and memorandum of agreement signing at the Filipiñana Hall, Archbishop's Residence, Cebu City on March 5, 2019. With him are University of San Carlos president, Rev. Fr. Dionisio Miranda (left), Cebu Diocesan Youth Director Rev. Fr. Mark Barneso (riht), and students of USC. (Photo courtesy of NYD 2019 - Cebu Facebook page)
CEBU CITY — The Roman Catholic church on Thursday urged parents in various parishes of the Archdiocese of Cebu to register their children as volunteers for the upcoming National Youth Day 2019 in Cebu.
Rev. Fr. Joselito Gutierrez, NYD 2019 steering committee member, said the church needs the support of the parishioners to make this big event to be hosted by Cebu archdiocese a success.
In his video posted on Facebook, Gutierrez urged the faithful to pray for the youth and the church.
He said the parents have a vital role to play in urging children to become active volunteers in celebrating the youth day in Cebu.
“Please contact your parish priest or the youth organization in your parish so that you can register as youth volunteers for the National Youth Day 2019,” said the priest, who is a member of the team ministry in St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish in Mabolo.
The church in Cebu is also tapping "foster families" who will adopt youth participants coming from different archdioceses and dioceses in the country, Gutierrez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Gutierrez said while registration for participants from other parishes outside the archdiocese of Cebu is already closed, the church still welcomes volunteers from local parishes here.
He told the PNA in an earlier text message that the NYD 2019 organizing committee expects around 10,000 youth participants. Registration of participants is done online, he noted.
Participants will be from different parishes in Cebu.
The church, Gutierrez said, is looking after the safety of the participants who will be placed in the parishes and foster families in Cebu.
The event is set to open at the International Eucharistic Congress Convention Center Cebu on April 23 and will culminate on the 28th. Thousands of youth delegates from other archdioceses in the country are expected to join.
The church also welcomes individuals and organizations who wish to help in the event.
Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on Tuesday led the official launching of National Youth Day 2019 mobile applications, “Kaabay” and “Pedro’s Journey.”
“Kaabay” is a mobile event guide for the pilgrims of NYD which is downloadable via smartphone, while “Pedro’s Journey” is an “e-learning mobile game application that will help and engage pilgrims in learning about the history of specific places here in Cebu,” the NYD2019 Facebook page said.
The Archdiocese of Cebu and the University of San Carlos (USC) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the free use of the mobile apps designed by the students of the university's computer and information sciences department.
The MOA was signed in presence of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and USC president, Rev. Fr. Dionisio Miranda.
Cebu Diocesan Youth Director Rev. Fr. Mark Barneso; USC School of Arts and Sciences dean, Dr. Delia Belleza; and USC Computer and Information Sciences Dean Christian Maderazo were also present during the contract signing.
According to the post, Kaabay and Pedro’s Journey will soon be available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. (PNA)
