What is the National Youth Day

The NATIONAL YOUTH DAY (NYD) is an event where

the Philippine Church expresses, in very concrete

ways, her great love for the young. It is an occasion

offered for young people to celebrate and deepen

their faith, and a special moment of coming together

as one body, united in a journey towards intimacy

with Christ.

The NYD is celebrated annually in the dioceses and

organizations on the 16th of December or on any

day near it. Yearly, the ECY prepares the NYD

conceptual plan and proposes activities for its

celebration. Adaptation of the plan, to suit the local

context, depends largely on the creativity and

possibilities of each diocese or organization.

The NYD is also celebrated biennially through a

national gathering. It is usually on a date near

December 16, and lasts for three days. When

celebrated this way, the local host of the celebration

assists the ECY in the planning and execution of the

NYD events.

NYD activities are centered on the theme offered by

the Holy Father for the yearly celebration of the

World Youth Day (WYD).

The Journey of the National Youth Day

In 1986, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the

Philippines, as a way of concretizing its preferential

apostolate for the youth, approved the annual

celebration of the NYD every December 16, the first

day of the Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi.

The first NYD celebration was in 16 December 1986.

From 1987 to 1990, NYD celebrations at the national

level were held in Manila. From 1991 to 1997, the

NYD was celebrated locally in the different parishes

and dioceses.

For the period 1997 to 1999, themes were centered

on the annual preparatory celebrations for the Great

Jubilee Year. His Excellency, Most Rev Rolando J.

Tria-Tirona, OCD, DD, then ECY Chairman and Bishop

of Malolos, revived the celebration of the NYD at a

national level by hosting the NYD that year in his

own diocese.

Below are host-dioceses and themes of past NYD’s

national celebrations:

1998

13-15 December, Diocese of Malolos

“The Youth, Sharing the Father’s Love with His Lowly People” 1999

10-12 December, Archdiocese of Manila

“Rejoice, the Lord is with you!” 2000

01-03 December, Diocese of Balanga

“The Word became a human being, and, full of grace and truth, lived among us.” [Jn 1:14]

2001

30 November – 01 December, Archdiocese of Lipa

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” [Lk 9:23]

2002

28 November – 01 December, Archdiocese of Palo

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” [Mt 5:13-14]

2004

25-28 November, Diocese of Bacolod

“We wish to see Jesus!” [Jn 12:21]

2006

08-12 November, Archdiocese of Davao

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my

path.” [Ps 119:105]

NATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2011

“Planted and built up in Christ, firm in the faith.” [cf. Col 2:7]

14-19 November 2011, in Festival Sites around Metro Manila

EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON YOUTH

CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

p. 2 Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” [cf. Col 2:7]

NATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2011

This year’s national celebration of the NYD becomes

more significant, as this event falls within the CBCP’s

declaration of this year as the CBCP Year of the Youth

on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ECY. As

an event within this celebration, it is hoped that the

NYD2011 will leave a lasting impression on the young

and on the Church: for the young to experience God’s

preferential love for them; and for the Church, having

been reminded of the urgency to minister to the young,

to express renewed commitment to youth ministry.

Theme “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” [cf. Col 2:7]

Date 14-19 November 2011

The NYD 2011 Logo

The Cross stands for Jesus Christ

our Lord, Brother of the young,

the center of youth ministry. Its

central position signifies the

fundamental role of Jesus in the

Double Celebration. Its

standing firm resonates with

the Scripture theme of the

Double Celebration: “Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in love…” The yellow

color depicts that Jesus is the

light of the world, especially of the youth, and that he is

the model for youth ministry. Its inclined stance towards the three human figures gives emphasis to

the Incarnation, the prime basis and motive for youth

ministry.

The three (3) human figures reaching out to and holding the Cross symbolize the youth who yearn for

meaning and fullness in the Lord. They also represent

the Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines with its

three goals of establishing and strengthening the

youths’ relationship with Christ, providing

opportunities for personal growth, and encouraging

community involvement.

Their colors yellow, orange and red signify the

following about the Filipino youth: their energy and

passion, their diversity, as well as their vital importance

in the life of the Church and society. Their one direction represents the journey of youth ministry

towards one vision, despite its various forms and

settings.

The number twenty-five (25) depicts the number of

years since the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth

was created. The creation of the commission and of

other youth ministries in the dioceses and in other

levels is a grace from God and a gift of the Catholic

Church in the Philippines to the young.

The inclination of the number to the Cross show that

these years were lived in constant striving to be faithful

to the Lord and His preferential love for the youth.

The blue circle at the background symbolizes the fullness of

life which the Church, through her youth ministry, would like

to offer to the youth. The color blue also stands for

Mary, our mother and model for young people on

loving surrender to God’s will, she who is present in

every young person’s journey with Christ. It also

represents the spirit of ecclesial communion, with

everyone in the Church taking part, in which the Double

Celebration and youth ministry are undertaken.

Objectives

The NYD2011, celebrated on the CBCP Year of the

Youth on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the

Episcopal Commission on Youth, is envisioned to be:

For the young,

1 An intense encounter with Jesus Christ and an

experience of confirmation and celebration of their

Catholic faith

2 An invitation and challenge for them to become

protagonists of the new evangelization

For youth ministers and for the Church in general,

3 An occasion to strengthen youth ministry through

reaching out to more young people and

collaborating with other ministries

Participants

Young people, who come from the 86 ecclesiastical

territories in the Philippines and from the 21 FNYO-

member organizations, and who are 13-39 years old,

are invited to be part of this event. The NYD2011 shall

also welcome young people from movements and

congregations outside the regular ECY structure as a

3

Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” [cf. Col 2:7] p.3

way of “widening the tent” to reach out to young

people, especially those coming from the grassroots.

Allocation of Slots

Each ecclesiastical territory or organization within the

ECY structure is allocated with 50 slots. They may

request for additional slots, but acceptance and

confirmation of the request shall depend on the

turnout of the initial registration. Available slots will be

distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

Groups from movements and congregations outside

the ECY network are allocated with 20 slots each. They

may also request for additional slots, following the

same principle for distribution of available slots.

Venues and Festival Sites

The following are the festival sites where the

registration and daily program of the NYD 2011 will be

held:

• Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, Manila

• Claret School in Quezon City

• Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City

• St. Joseph Parish in Las Piñas City

• National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish in

Betterliving, Parañaque City

Opening Ceremonies will be at Don Bosco Technical

Institute, Makati while the Closing Ceremonies will be

held in the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City.

Accommodations

Participants will be welcomed and accommodated in

foster homes within the area of these festival sites for

the duration of the NYD 2011 celebration.

Registration Details

Solidarity Share

The total solidarity share per participant is P1,000.00

This covers P980.00 participation cost and P20.00

solidarity fund.

Solidarity Shares must be submitted as a group and

may be remitted to the NYD2011 Organizers in either

of the two ways:

1 Through cash remittance to the ECY bank account

number 206-830016-1, Philippine National Bank,

Intramuros Branch

2 Through a check payable to the Episcopal

Commission on Youth

How to Register

A group has to have a Group Leader and an Assistant

Group Leader, chosen from among those who will

attend the event. Both the Group Leader and the

Assistant Group Leader are required to have an email

address for the exchange of communications with the

NYD2011 Organizers.

The Group Leader

The Group Leader is responsible for leading the entire

group. He/She serves as the contact person of the

group for all NYD2011 communications and

transactions. He/She must attend the NYD2011 with

his/her group-members and accompany them

throughout the event.

The Assistant Group Leader

The Assistant Group Leader assists the Group Leader in

all his/her functions and responsibilities. Second to the

Group Leader, he/she serves as the contact person of

the group. He/She also assumes full responsibility over

the group in case of the Group Leader’s absence or

incapacity.

Two Phases of Registration

First Phase

There will be two phases of the registration. For the

first phase, a group initially registers by submitting the

name of the Group Leader, some important

information about him/her, an estimated number of

participants, and, if the number is more than the

allotted 50 slots, a request for additional slots. The ECY

will send the NYD2011 Registration Form #1 for this.

The deadline for the first phase of registration is 29 July

2011.

Second Phase

The ECY shall confirm a group’s registration through a

letter, and proceed with the second phase of

registration by sending the NYD2011 Registration Form

#2 to request for the final number of participants, list of

participants’ names, and other pertinent information

such as the travel advisory, registration fees, etc. The

deadline for the second phase of registration is 31

August 2011. The ECY shall also send more specific

NYD2011 information during the second phase of

registration.

Important: A group will receive forms for the second

phase only after completing the first phase.

Organizer and Host

The CBCP – ECY is the main organizer of the National

Youth Days. On this very special year dedicated for the

Filipino youth, the NYD will be hosted by the

Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO).

The Federation of National Youth Organization

It was in 1990 that the ECY established the FNYO and

federated the various national youth movements and

organizations for the purpose of:

� establishing friendship and cooperation,

� mutual sharing and enrichment of charism and

spirituality,

� fostering unity and solidarity with one another, and

� collaborating to promote and actualize the national

youth ministry plan.

Within the ECY structure, the FNYO stands as one of

the regions, of equal status as those of the Regional

Youth Coordinating Councils. Through the creation of

the FNYO, the ECY recognized and affirmed the youth

organizations and movements as potent forces and

viable settings for youth ministry. Currently, there are

twenty-one (21) active FNYO members, namely:

1 Canossian Youth Movement

2 CFC-Singles for Christ

3 CFC-Singles for Family and Life

4 CFC-Youth for Christ

5 CFC-Youth for Family and Life

6 Chiro Youth Movement

7 Christ’s Youth in Action

8 Christian Life Community of the Philippines

9 Filipino Youth with a Mission

10 Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth

11 Focolare (Youth for a United World)

12 Franciscan Youth Philippines

13 Institucion Teresiana Youth

14 Junior Catholic Women’s League

15 Knights of Columbus-Columbian Squires

16 Mary Help of Christians Crusade

17 Salesian Youth Movement-FMA and SDB

18 Society of St. Vincent de Paul

19 Student Catholic Action of the Philippines

20 Tarcisian Adorers

21 Youth for Mary and Christ

Message from the FNYO Coordinating Council

We are happy and excited to welcome you all in this

year’s National Youth Day celebration, hosted by us,

your “ka-lakbays” in the Federation of National Youth

Organizations!

All of us anticipate NYD2011 to be another significant

milestone in the journey of the youth ministry in our

Church, as we come together for days of festive sharing

and deepening our rootedness in Christ, as echoed by

the theme of our NYD celebration: “Planted and built

up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith…” (Col. 2:7) We in

the FNYO are one with you in journeying towards this

occasion.

The on-going preparations for the NYD 2011 is indeed

a great challenge. But at the same time, we are all

humbled by this experience, knowing that this is God’s

wonderful blessing for us youth organizations and

movements to share the richness and dynamism of our

member-organizations to the young people who will be

attending in the NYD 2011. Through this event, we

dream to bring in the spirit of friendship and

communion, keeping true to our slogan, “Iisa, kahit

magkakaiba!”

Hosting this year’s NYD is also our expression of

gratitude to the ECY for its unwavering support to

national Catholic youth groups and movements.

We hope that you will not miss attending the NYD this

year, for surely, our Lord has a lot of great surprises in

store for us who will take part in this celebration. Be

one with us in continually praying for the success and

fruitfulness of these days of encountering God through

each other’s presence and witnessing.

“Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in

love…” [Col 2:7]

See you in the NYD2011!

EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON YOUTH

CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES 3/F CBCP Building, 470 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines Phone: 02.5279567 / Telefax: 02.5279566 / Email Address for NYD2011 Registration <ecy.nyd2011@gmail.com>