More than 100 young people turned up for Summer Youth Camp last May 18-19, 2012 at San Luis, Tarlac City. With the theme Youth and Media: One Faith, One Mission, the FSP Sisters, postulants and aspirants gathered youths from various parishes to experience a spiritual overnight vigil as part of their summer mission activities.
Beginning with the procession of the Bible with accompanying reflections, the vigil lasted until morning with an ensemble consisting of a mini-concert by the sisters in the initial formation, a talk on the theme Youth and Media: One Faith, One Mission by Sr. Carmel Galula, FSP, and sharing and creative group presentations based on the theme. The crowd was entertained by the dance presentation from the seminarians of the Our Lady of Peace College Seminary, the parish youth groups, and from our young sisters.
At around 2 o’clock in the morning, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed as the Sisters led the youths in prayer with a modified Taize service based on the Way, Truth and Life method. Confession and counseling followed in which all attendees, some born-again Christians who were also present at the vigil, were assisted spiritually by the priests and FSP Sisters.
The youth camp ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Rev. Fr. Jowi Mendoza, the Parochial Vicar of the San Sebastian Cathedral Parish and the symbolic burning of pornographic materials and calendars gathered by the young missionaries during their home visits.
The youth camp is the culminating activity of the summer mission in Tarlac. The Sisters conducted home visits and media displays in different parishes. They gave a series of Bible seminars to youth ministry, members of San Sebastian Cathedral Parish. They also gave separate catechism sessions to children and adult and vocation talks in various parishes. During Sunday book displays, “Kultura ng Buhay,” a novena promoting the culture of life was launched.
