Opening Prayer

Group sharing

Group sharing – level 3

Journal writing

April 4-8, 2007
University of Cebu - Cebu City, Philippines

Come to me…for I am gentle and humble of heart

The recently concluded RSCJ Summer Youth Camp had this theme: Come to me…for I Am Gentle and Humble of Heart. This Biblical text from Matthew 11:29, which captures the essence of our Spirituality, was the focus of the content of our formation for the young people who participated in the camp. There were around 192 participants including the staff coming from our different ministry areas, Manila, Samar and Cebu. We were also enriched by the presence of three Chinese students sent by the Taiwan area.

The participants were grouped into three levels:  Level 1 for the neophytes who underwent the leadership training using theatre and the arts as a method to impart values and spirituality. Level 2 group underwent a retreat seminar which focused on the theme HEARTS- Home (Belongingness), Empathy (Compassion), Alone with God (Prayer), Reconciliation (Forgiveness), Thanksgiving (offering) and Sent (Mission). The retreat also adapted the significant points of Henri Nouwen’s Life of the Beloved which highlights the theme “Broken, Blessed, Chosen, Shared”. Level 3 had discernment as the major theme, a significant process necessary in decision making. Vocation and discipleship were the highlights of this level. Workshops and input to different levels were done simultaneously. At the end of the day, all the groups gathered for a common prayer/liturgical services. The atmosphere was good since the camp was held on a holy week. Generally, the experience of the camp as a whole was well received by our young people.

Facilitators of the youth camp were the RSCJ sisters. Those in-charge were the following: level 1-Sandra Clemente, Level 2 – Lydia Collado, Level 3 – Sol Navidad, Liturgist – Minda Caoile. They were assisted by the Mission Partners (Gigi Tupas and Syd Baradi) and staff from their respective ministries. It was indeed a formative experience not just for the delegates and staff but most especially for the RSCJs. We realize that this is the best venue to offer opportunities for young people to search together and for us to communicate the richness of our Charism and Spirituality (Chapter 2000, 42).

The dynamism of our young people gave us a sense of hope as we prepare them to be the source of transformation to the society and the world. Their own search, questions, experience of brokenness, joy, creativity, hope and openness was tangible during this event. It was not just us who gave them hope but they also realize that they were source of hope among themselves, and that they have actually experienced a unique way of being church.

We ended the camp with the inspiration to be the heart and mind of God in the world. This is what they brought away with them when we left Cebu City enriched by the whole experience. For this, we are especially grateful to the province of Australia-New Zealand through Rita Carroll, RSCJ, Mrs. Helene Vial and her students of French and Japanese, and to the Taiwan Area through Chang Manling, RSCJ and Sun Chih-wei Rose, RSCJ for supporting, collaborating and helping us realize this dream of gathering our young people who want to make a difference in the world.

Sol Navidad rscj
District of the Philippines

Prayer	Participants – Level 1
Participants – Level 1	Participants – Level 1
Participants – Level 1