DAY 1: November 29, 2024 | LWYD 2024 Welcome Mass

The City of Bogo raged excitedly on November 29, 2024, where pilgrims met with their foster parents at the premises of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Vincent Ferrer. The said activities kicked off with a Welcome Mass; it is exciting to think about how such will culminate into a week that promises to be inspiring and transformational for everyone.

It comfortably welcomes thousands of pilgrims and their foster parents from different parts of the archdiocese. Its beauty in Bogo city will be undergirded by the shining light of faith and oneness. They came as foster parents, those men and women who opened their homes and their hearts in their lives to young people as they walk through the event with appropriate shelter, spiritual advice, and encouragement to motivate them in participating.

Participants filed into the church, building the very sweet air of anticipation, with a very deep sense of reverence. It was clear that this was not an ordinary event; it was a pilgrimage journey that would bring young people more closer to God and closer to one another. Some of these pilgrims will go a long distance to get here, and their eagerness to dive into what promises to be a life-altering experience was echoed by the outstanding warmth with which they were welcomed.

The High Mass: A Celebration of Faith and Unity

The day had its greatest moment by holding the solemn High Mass in the presence of Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua, the parish priest of Saint Vincent Ferrer, with the participation of Rev. Fr. Orlando Ruiz IV and Msgr. Isidro Oliamot, who were the concelebrants. Such a mass was observed by the faith, the unity, and the most youthful heart. This Mass formally opened LWYD 2024 and invited the pilgrims to introspection on their personal journeys but also to be selfless to be able to live the values of love, faith, and service for a whole week.

Hearts kindled for the liturgy in a grand processional, following which altar servers, clergy, and participants moved synchronized but reverently up to the altar. Readings spoke of hope, renewal, and a call to serve others-themes that inspired and echoed through the gathering of young pilgrims in this very special occasion. And as the Word of God was proclaimed, a deep sense of oneness was felt within the walls of the church: all were called to remember the mission of LWYD, to lead lives in the spirit of love, as modeled by Christ, for not just a week, but for a lifetime.

The High Mass: A Celebration of Faith and Unity

The day had its greatest moment by holding the solemn High Mass in the presence of Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua, the parish priest of Saint Vincent Ferrer, with the participation of Rev. Fr. Orlando Ruiz IV and Msgr. Isidro Oliamot, who were the concelebrants. Such a mass was observed by the faith, the unity, and the most youthful heart. This Mass formally opened LWYD 2024 and invited the pilgrims to introspection on their personal journeys but also to be selfless to be able to live the values of love, faith, and service for a whole week.

Hearts kindled for the liturgy in a grand processional, following which altar servers, clergy, and participants moved synchronized but reverently up to the altar. Readings spoke of hope, renewal, and a call to serve others-themes that inspired and echoed through the gathering of young pilgrims in this very special occasion. And as the Word of God was proclaimed, a deep sense of oneness was felt within the walls of the church: all were called to remember the mission of LWYD, to lead lives in the spirit of love, as modeled by Christ, for not just a week, but for a lifetime.

Motivating Homily on Faith and Service:

Here comes Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua with an inspiring homily meant to entrench faith and service as guides to all the young people. He talked about what modern life is all about: how the way today is filled with so many distractions, and sometimes even the most difficult facet of life, making it hard to move closer to true happiness and fulfillment itself. But Fr. Saldua went on to say that those things will never be able to take away the fact that God's love is always here with us, showing us how to pass through all the complexities of life with grace and hope.

"Not as individuals, but as a community gathered together by a common faith," he declared. "This day, let us open our hearts to the Lord's call: to be His hands and feet for a world that desperately needs His light."

The father advised the young people to be strong in their faith, live with a purpose, and embrace service as a way of living. He assured them that every little act they do can create great impacts on the other people's lives. If they truly loved God and served one another, they would have been very much closer to creating a more compassionate, just, and peaceful world.

The Liturgical Music Experience: Raising High Spirits

Last but not least was the liturgical music during Mass. The choir from the youth of Bogo City sang with their hearts and voices, invigorating an already lofty ambience and adding further solemnity to the occasion. Every hymn was handpicked; each song was a meditation, prayer, and deepening of unity. Shining with melodies and carrying with them every prayer from the faithful, the Shrine was taken away with the event, fleshing the spiritual dimension of it.

Up till the final blessing, the music captivated the spirit of youth, making the Shrine a place of joy, reverence, and collective worship. The excitement also proved that these young people were not mere strangers in any religious event but serious participants and celebrants in this journey of faith with their voices and hearts joining in harmony, praising God..

A Community of Pilgrims and Foster Parents :

The day is suffused with the deepest meaning: there can be seen an obvious bond between pilgrims and their foster parents. The love and care between foster parents and youth are tangible throughout the course of the Mass as they accompany youth into engaging with liturgy and thinking about what the celebration is intended to signify. It is these unselfish people who then create that perceived sense of security and support for the youth that reminds them they are not alone on such a great spiritual journey.

In the holding weeks leading to LWYD 2024, the foster parents would already have started building a relationship with the young pilgrims who had been entrusted with them, thus preparing them well for the trials and joys they will experience in the week ahead. That commitment to accompany young people on this journey of faith is clear evidence of God's love in action-an invitation to all of us to learn how to carry one another in the process of living our Christian values.

In Search of the Future: A Day to Grow and Change:

The Mass ended, and almost everyone was energized to receive new challenges in the coming days. The Welcome Mass signposted what would happen for them during the week: growth, spiritual deepening, and great transformation. Here are youths who are now energized to cross their next adventure-awakened to enter into activity, conversations, and reflection of discovering newer dimensions of their faith-following the spark of faith and service.

With the Blessing of Mass, they are sent forth with a mandate to carry Christ's light throughout the week by the pilgrims. The Archdiocesan community has branded them in that love and joy shared on this first day and will serve as fuel for the faith, service, and communion in the days to come.

When we look at the rest of LWYD 2024, one thing becomes crystal clear: the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Vincent Ferrer has indeed become a sacred space for transformation. That's the event's first day in preparing it for what would surely become a memorable and life-altering experience for all involved.

May this pilgrimage remind everyone that just like the youth gathered here today, we all are called to live with purpose, to serve with love, and to walk together in the light of Christ.

Thank you all for making it this far in my blog. Don't forget that as a Youth, it is important for us to embrace our faith and service. I hope you all have a great read, don't forget to upvote, reblog, and comment. Thank you!