Youth Mission Cross, Pope John Paull II’s relic visit Taal

By: Ashley Gabrielle C. Pena

October 21, 2019 — The youth mission cross and the blood relic of St. Pope John Paul II visited
the Basilica Minor of St. Martin of Tours in the town of Taal, headed by the Archdiocesan Youth
Commission (AYC), which encouraged the people especially the youth of today to become
closer to God, serve in the Church, be gathered as a Church community and pray with and for
the young people. In anticipation for the visitation, a crowd including the Parish Youth Council
of Taal, students and teachers from Our Lady of Caysasay Academy, Saint Raphael Archangel
Parochial School, St. Martin Montessori School, and Rizal College of Taal lined up in front of the
Taal Basilica while watching the live video from Facebook featuring the journey of the Youth
Mission Cross and the blood relic of St. Pope John Paul II to Taal. Before the arrival, the Parish
Youth Council of Taal (PYC) danced the animation to the song “Tell The World Of His Love”. As
the National Youth Cross and the blood relic of St. Pope John Paul II arrive at around 8:00 am,
the people present excitingly waved their white and yellow flags as the PYC executed their
animation once again and ended the performance with an amazing sight of colorful confetti’s
thrown from a window of the church. After the arrival, the Subli Dancers of Bauan offered a
dance of Subli in front of the crowd.
The welcoming rites was done by the AYC/OLCA before the solemn entrance procession
of the National Youth Cross and the blood relic of St. Pope John Paul II. Sir Jay Calanog had the
honor to do the reading of the decree and the explanation and significance of the Papal
Chair/Umbraculum/Tintinnabulum to enlighten the people present. At around 9:30 am, the
Eucharistic Celebration headed by Most Rev. Guedencio Cardinal B. Rosales as a large crowd full
of adults, children, students, and teachers from the schools mentioned listened with reverence.
The Holy Mass ended at 11:00 am with an animation once again by the PYC members. To show
their warmest gratitude, the people who participated in the event, those who attended the
Mass, and the priests present was thanked wholeheartedly while a certificate was given to
Most Rev. Guedencio Cardinal B. Rosales. The memorable visit of the day nearly ended as
different Catholic schools such as SBCA, STCS, and SICS had a presentation of the life of St. Pope
John Paul II. They did animations and a performance of a song by Mr. Reynan Balmes. The event
was indeed a success because multiple realizations and lessons were obtained by the people
there. As a student in OLCA stated, “The visitation is a way to encourage the youth to serve,
trust, worship, and believe in the Lord”.