austraLasia #2860
300 Youth for Mary – Word of God Camp
by Rexlyn Kibut, DBTI student
PORT MORESBY: 25 May 2011 -- From 20 - 22 May, a very
significant event of prayer, fellowship and mission took
place in DBTI, Port Moresby, participated in by close to 300
young people from different secondary schools including
several colleges and universities. This is the 4th Marian
camp for the 300 Youth for Mary.
The participants were fortunate to have
Fr John Cabrido, SDB, as the main resource person. He gave
two talks on becoming true prophets and disciples of Jesus,
exhorting the young to proclaim the Word of God by living it
daily. He gave them four words through which they can test
whether they are true disciples of Jesus: joy, charity,
doctrine and obedience.
A most awaited moment of the camp was the
sending off for mission. The participants, divided into four
groups of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were sent off for a
few hours of mission. Two groups went to visit the Port
Moresby General Hospital, one group went to the Bomana
Penitentiary and another visited an orphanage, We Care, at
Waigani.
The young people, with hearts of true disciples, shared
God’s Word, prayed with the sick, the prisoners and the
orphans. They gave joy to those they visited, sang songs for
them and listened to their stories. They were happy to see
the children laugh, they were touched by the stories of the
sick and the prisoners. Even for just a short while, the
young people lighted up and “gave flavour” to the lives of
the people they visited and it was an enriching experience
for both.
In his homily at the concluding Mass, Fr.
John Cabrido left them a challenge – three words to live by
so as to be true prophets and disciples – True love, Life,
Truth.
Fr. Valeriano Barbero, the spiritual
adviser of the group, also exhorted them to love Mary very
much and to imitate her example in their life. He invited
them to be back for next year’s camp and hopefully, there
will be more than 300 of them!
N.B. The 300 Youth for Mary started on May 24, 2008
when the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians was consecrated
and dedicated by Retired Thomas Cardinal Williams of New
Zealand. The Shrine was established for the Archdiocese of
Port Moresby and the 300 Youth for Mary was the brainchild
of Fr. Valeriano Barbero, SDB and Sr. Ma. Cristina
Villasanta, FMA who wish to honour our Blessed Mary with
young people who will live for their Christian principles
and spread devotion to Mary.
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