What are you carrying, Katood?

Reflecting on the different emotions of the delegates of the National Youth Day 2025, held in the Archdiocese of Caceres brings me to this question. The thoughts and the feelings they go through as they prepare, celebrate, and finally go home from this joyous event is something worth giving value to, especially to those who understand the beauty of the youth ministry. The fact that the National Youth Day starts on a Tuesday, and ends on Saturday already speaks volumes of the sense of sacrifice and mission that these delegates and even the organizers embody. Leaving behind work or school, or even both is nothing new to a youth leader who understands the urgency and calling from God to serve his or her fellow youth. In a beautiful way, this familiar feeling is amplified when meeting with fellow servant leaders across the entire Philippines and sharing these personal experiences and stories with others.

Sleepless nights, the different healthy conflicts within the groups serving the youth ministry, sacrificing personal conveniences, and many more are just some examples of what youth leaders go through in order to serve the Lord in this special and unique way. It is perhaps this concrete action of choosing to serve the youth, knowing that they may have no way of paying you back except through genuine smiles and prayers which fills the hearts of youth leaders with hope and the presence of God. This keeps them moving forward despite these challenges. Sharing these personal experiences with other youth across the country, the beauty of being heard, and actively listening is also a jubilant part of the National Youth Day. Thus, it is my personal prayer, and perhaps countless others that as delegates we not only carry with us the feeling of hope, founded on Jesus Christ, but also bring hope back to our respective dioceses, and to all those who we may encounter. (Kim R. Amparo)