News and Events

Marian-Ignacian Youth Camp

The Philippine Catholic Church celebrates 2019 as the “Year of the Youth” with a theme “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved. Gifted. Empowered”.

Filipino youth are beloved by God and His Church, especially through Her youth ministry, who raised them up and carry them lovingly through life, with all its trials and tribulations. They are gifted with the Holy Spirit, who inflames them with faith, passion, and courage. Rooted in Christ they are empowered to shine on a world of darkness and confusion, taking part in his body, the Church, for building Gods reign.

As a part of the celebration, the RVM Northern Mindanao Region conducted the Ignacian-Marian Youth Camp 2019 with the theme “SANAOL: Ignacian-Marian Youth. Beloved to live, Gifted to give, Empowered to serve”. Last November 23-24, 2019 at St. Mary’s Academy of Carmen Cagayan de Oro City. This Youth Camp was participated by 11 RVM schools in Northern Mindanao. This schools were SMA Carmen, SMA Jasaan, SMA Talisayan, SJBHS Lagaonglong, SMA Lunao, SMA Tagoloan, CKC Gingoog, LC IBED, SMC Iligan, SMA Labason, and SRC Balingasag.

On the first day, November 23, 2019 (morning), the arrival of schools and registration of the participants started. This time you can really feel the generosity and hospitality of the host school, SMA Carmen’s Faculty, Staff and students in welcoming the participants of each schools. Afternoon on the same day, fan games were started. The following ability of the participants were tested on the game “Wer Na U, Here Na Me”. In this game, the participants were blind folded and they need to go to their respective teams by only hearing the sounds of the animals their team represents. After they found their teams, the trail started by the game “The Amazing Grace”. In this game, teams must complete different challenges to gather clues that will help them move forward to the next level of the game. Each teams really shows unity and teamwork in doing the challenges they are told to do for them to win. But sadly, the game was cut because of the preparation for the Eucharistic Celebration. The mass was started at 5:00 pm and ended by 6:30 pm.

When the mass and dinner were done, the participants are getting ready for their presentations by school. You can really see in their faces that they are all excited to show their God-given talents to the other people. Few minutes later, the program already started together with the talk show. In the talk show guest speakers,Mr. Apollo and Mrs. Ermeh Lynn Bacas, for married life, Mr. Juanito Lucine for the Single-Blessedness, S. Ma. Gracia Agda, RVM and Fr. Riberto Archie Carampatan foe the Religious Life were interviewed about their experiences on the vocations they choose. The speakers gave a lot of knowledge to the students who still don’t know what vocation to choose in life. They also gave advices on how to live life amazing and happy, but all of them only have one point of view and that is to do what your heart’s desire and what makes you happy. The night was ended by a wonderful praise jam to honor and worship the Lord.

The next morning was started by a Rosary and a procession around the SMA Carmen ground. Even though the students are still sleepy they really forced their selves to participate wholeheartedly on the Rosary. In ending the Year of the Youth St. John the Baptist High School of Lagonglong launch 2020 as the year of Ecumenism. The school presented a dance number that shows unity on the different religions and beliefs around the world.

This Youth Camp really helped the youth a lot in making their lives better and making the world a better place to live for all of us even if we all have different religions and beliefs in life. It was indeed memorable, there are so many friendship made, so many lessons learned, so many advices heard and most of all there are so many memories created that can be cherish for the rest of your life as a youth.