Bigkis Puso, Bigkis Diwa, Bigkis Kiwa:
A Look at the Theme of the Philippine RSCJ Youth Camp

In the desert -- a seemingly lifeless landscape -- a flower blooms…

This living promise of hope reflects our ministry with and for young people. Over the past six years, those of us who are called to partake in this service have walked in faith through the challenges and trials of numerous “desert” experiences. We thus stand as living witnesses to the presence of God, the light of Christ, and the movement of the Holy Spirit at work in and through this dynamic ministry to Filipino young people today.

For six summers now, we have had the privilege of journeying with youth leaders from the various RSCJ youth ministries in the Philippines. Through this annual Summer Youth Camp, we, the RSCJ youth ministers, have been enabled to act and reflect on the ultimate challenge posed to us by the Gospel: to "make disciples." Notwithstanding the difficulties inherent in the work, the imperative remains strong in our hearts: “to plant, nurture, and send disciples”…..

In the recently-concluded RSCJ Summer Youth Camp, which was held on March 29 to April 2, 2006 in the Mambaling Campus of the University of Cebu, 170 youth leaders from Manila, Montalban, Samar, Cebu, and Ormoc participated in three simultaneous educational modules that centered on the theme: Bigkis Puso, Bigkis Diwa, Bigkis Kiwa!

Developed by RSCJ, these integrated and integrative modules are an attempt to weave Sacred Heart spirituality into the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that we hope to awaken, strengthen, or deepen among our youth leaders. These include: "Bigkis Puso roughly translates to “one heart”; Bigkis Diwa, “one spirit”; and Bigkis Kiwa, “one movement”. These symbol-laden phrases try to capture the sense of union, communion, and corporateness that the RSCJ Summer Youth Camp engenders among both the youth and the RSCJ youth ministers.

1. the leadership training module, conducted by Sandra Clemente, RSCJ for neophyte youth leaders;
2. the prayer and reflection module, handled by Lydia Collado, RSCJ with the help of Samar ministry partners Gigi Tupas and Syd Baradi;
3. the discernment and life direction module, facilitated by Sol Navidad, RSCJ with the help of postulant Beth Sulleza for the more mature or longer-staying youth leaders;

Although carried out separately, these modules are unified by common prayer and liturgy prepared by Minda Caoile, RSCJ with the help of campus ministry student leaders from the Cebu Normal University.

As we witness signs of growth in and among the youth leaders, we realize that we, the RSCJ ministers, are likewise growing as we share our spirituality, our charism, and our mission “to discover and reveal God’s love.” More than ever, we are now convinced that coming together and collaborating in this Summer Youth Camp is a concrete step towards the “corporateness” we, RSCJ in the Philippine District, are constantlchallenged to live.

In closing, we renew our conviction that the RSCJ Summer Youth Camp is a viable venue for instilling the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of Christian leadership. Over and beyond the programs and activities that we plan and implement, however, it is the witness of our lives and of our corporate presence that leaves an imprint on these youth. Indeed, years of youth ministry have taught us that, in light of our spirituality, leadership formation is not just something we do, but an expression of who we are.