By John Rommel Baruel

DBTC Cebu, Philippines, 13 December 2023 -- "Mary arose and went with haste – Luke 1:39” was the theme for this year’s Inter Don Bosco Youth Clubs (iDBYC), held on the 9th of December, 2023, at Don Bosco Technical College, Cebu. This year’s iDBYC was inspired by the recent World Youth Day, held from August 1-6, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal.

The iDBYC began with a talk on the history of World Youth Day by Atty. Clarrissa Idris Banaybanay. She highlighted how it started with an expected 50,000 attendees, growing to 250,000 attendees and counting during the actual event. The more than 250,000 attendees made Pope John Paul II happy and inspired, leading him to decide to continue this celebration every 2-4 years to gather young people worldwide and celebrate their youthfulness, especially their faith.

Break-out sessions followed the talk, during which the speakers included some of the representatives of SYM-Philippines from the World Youth Day – Fr. Vince Michael Sabal, SDB, Mr. Eduardo Empelis Jr., and Atty. Clarrissa Idris Banaybanay. In these sessions, they shared their life-changing experiences and reflections. Before the sessions ended, participants were encouraged to share their thoughts on the topics discussed.

Booth games followed in the afternoon, providing enjoyment for the participants. The event concluded with a procession of Our Lady of Fatima while praying the Holy Rosary around the grounds of DBTC-Cebu. The celebration of the Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Rooney Josh Undar, SDB (Commission on Youth Ministry-FIS Delegate), left the young people inspired and hopeful, looking forward to attending the World Youth Day soon, in God’s perfect time.

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