CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON YOUTH

“Mary arose and went with haste”

[Lk 1:38]

MESSAGE FOR THE NATIONAL YOUTH DAY (NYD) 2022

With profound joy we greet and address you, our Young People in the Philippines, as
we celebrate the National Youth Day 2022, this December 16th, the first day of our
traditional Aguinaldo Masses and Simbang Gabi.

The spirit of Advent and the Aguinaldo Masses are of expectation and anticipation. We
accompany the Blessed Virgin Mary as she awaits giving birth to the child Jesus. There is
joy in the certainty of the coming of the Messiah, as proclaimed by John the Baptist.

Providentially, we also look forward to the resumption of face-to-face events and

activities at the national level, God-willing. And we anticipate the World Youth Day in 2023
in Lisbon, Portugal, with the theme: “Mary arose and went with haste” [Lk 1:38].

This anticipation or waiting is not something passive or sterile. It is an active

engagement and immersion into the story of our faith, to be plunged into the mystery of
our salvation, that is, God’s love.

Mary, after giving her ‘Fiat’, went in haste to visit Elisabeth. Her ‘yes’ moved her to get
involved and to support. Her visit to Elizabeth was an evangelizing one. And Elizabeth
recognized that something beautiful was happening. The infant in Elizabeth’s womb
recognized the Holy One in the womb of Mary.

Dear Young People, a meaningful expectation of what is to come is not simply to wait.
It is to engage and get involved with the present with joy. It is to face the present challenges
responsibly. Our efforts are limited, of course. But when we wholeheartedly give the little
that we have to God, He does wonders with what we entrust to Him.

Let us wait wholeheartedly, purposively and responsibly. The advice of St. Paul in his
letter to the Romans is a good instruction and reminder: “Do not grow slack in zeal, be
fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer”
[Rom 12:11-12].

In our time, we speak of agility as a needed skill. This is due to the speed of changes
around us and their complexity. We need to be agile, that is, the ability to take action in
complex and rapidly changing conditions; to act with purpose and flexibility; able to work
with others seeking solutions, constantly and continuously learning and changing. Mary
went in haste. Yet, this was not a careless action. On the contrary, driven by sincere love
and concern, she did not delay.

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 There is a continual change that is asked of us, the interior change, metanoia – change
of heart, conversion. Given the many attractions and distractions, we need to keep our
focus on the Lord Jesus and our brothers and sisters. St. Paul reminds us:

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed

by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.” [Rom 12:2]

Dear Young People, let us resist the temptation of self-absorption. May we not be
simply concerned with self-preservation. Rather, let us look at the needs of others as our
own. This is exactly what Mary did when she arose in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth.
She was conscious of the needs of her cousin Elizabeth. St. Paul continues: “Let love be
sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor” [Rom 12:9].

Let us strive to make haste in doing kind and good deeds; to make haste in consoling
and supporting those in need; to make haste in attending to injustice; to make haste in
contributing to the good of our communities; to make haste in humbly accepting our faults
and weaknesses; to make haste in correcting our mistakes and showing resilience; to make
haste in reaching out to those who are far and excluded; to make haste to collaborate with
and accompany others. Let us make haste to realize our communion, to share
responsibility and to go for mission; to make haste towards building God’s Kingdom.

As we all celebrate the National Youth Day, our prayer and wish for all is that we may
all have the agility to face and address the rapidly changing challenges, keeping our minds,
hearts and spirit focused on the Lord Jesus, Who comes to rescue us. Like Mary, may we
all hasten in love to help out those in need, for we are all brothers and sisters.

God bless you!

+ REX ANDREW C. ALARCON, DD

Chairman
Bishop of Daet

2022 December 12, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Youth Ministry Week (December 09-15)