26th World Youth Day 2011 | ECY-PHILIPPINES

PREPARATORY FORMATION FOR THE WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 IN THE SUB-GROUPS
[before the Delegation Preparatory Session on 6-7 August 2011]

A meaningful World Youth Day experience begins in the places of origin of the pilgrims, where efforts and activities, individually and in groups, are undertaken to create and nurture good soil where the seed of faith may be planted anew and thrive. With this in mind, the Formation Team for ECY-Philippines requests the sub-groups to meet for two formation sessions before the Delegation Preparatory Session on 6-7 August 2011. Each session is for 3-4 hours. These can be done by having one session in June, and the other in July. The following is the general framework for each session: First SubGroup Session 1 Mag-P.E. (Pilipinas at Espaa) tayo! This activity aims to show the shared characteristics between Spanish and Filipino cultures. 2 The Pope writes to us! (Group reading of the Message of the Holy Father on WYD2011) This activity aims to familiarize the pilgrims with the Holy Fathers message on the occasion of the WYD2011, and allow them to make it their point of reference and guidance for the pilgrimage. Second SubGroup Session 1 Para sa isang buen viaje A list of practical tips for the trip to Spain and to the WYD2011 is made available, which the sub-group will discuss. 2 Sowing of the seed: Gospel sharing The group comes together in prayer, using the Word of God. The sevenstep Gospel sharing method is used, Luke 8:5-15 as the Gospel text.

+ Each session may be made more elaborate, depending on the initiative of the SubGroup Leader and his/her assistant. + This does not preclude the Sub-Group Leaders to call for other meetings with the sub-group, nor to undertake other steps in preparation for the World Youth Day 2011. + If it is not possible to meet for two separate sessions, the sub-group may do these two sessions one after the other, for one day.

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First Sub-Group Session The general objective of this first session is to create/strengthen among the WYD2011 pilgrims the affinity between the Philippines and Spain (WYD2011 host-country), and to read and reflect together as a group on the message of the Holy Father for the WYD2011. 1 Mag-P.E. (Pilipinas at Espaa) tayo! This activity aims to show the shared characteristics between Spanish and Filipino cultures. This may be preceded by opening amenities (registration and acknowledgment of attendees, prayer, etc.) 1.1 Introduction Leader/Facilitator: We are going to Spain for the Jornada Mundial de la Juventud dos mil onse, or World Youth Day 2011! I know we are all excited about it, as well as looking forward to the spiritual renewal which this encounter with the Lord will bring us. As we prepare for this journey to Madrid, it would be helpful to ask: Where am I going to? What do I know about the host-country of the WYD2011? Are there important and useful information and details which I need to know? For our session now, we shall do something as a group in order to know something new or something more about the country that will welcome us. In the process, I am sure we will discover that Spain and our country share a lot in terms of culture, among other things. Write on the board 5:30, and then ask the participants to read. Afterwards, write 1-10 on the board, and then ask them to count. Their expected action is to do the instructions in Spanish, i.e. alas-cinco y media and uno, dos, tres. That and many others are proofs of the enormous influence Spain has had on our country. Being colonized by Spain for 333 years through Nueva Espaa which is Mexico, the Philippines has received a lot from this European country: language, traditions, and of course, religion and faith. 1.2 Names 1.2.1 Name of our country: To begin, our country name is from Spain! The name of the Philippines comes from the king of Spain Philip II. It was given by the Spanish explorer Ruy Lpez de Villalobos who named the islands of Samar, and Leyte Las Islas Felipinas (The Philippine Islands), during his expedition in 1543. Throughout the colonial period, the name Felipinas (Philippines) was used, and became the official name of the Philippines. (from Wikipedia)

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1.2.2 Names of places around the Philippines: There are many names of places around the country which are Spanish, such as: [Provinces] Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Laguna, La Union, Negros Occidental and Oriental, etc. [Cities and towns] Nueva Valencia which means new valence (Guimaras), Las Pias which means pineapples (Metro Manila), Prosperidad which means prosperity (Agusan del Sur), Angeles which means angels (Pampanga), Sierra Bullones which means saw puffs(Bohol), La Trinidad which means The Trinity (Benguet), etc. There are also those which were named after Spanish cities and towns, such as Cadiz (in Southern Spain and in Negros Occidental, Philippines), Lucena (in Andalusia, Spain and in Quezon, Philippines), etc. THINK! Do you come from a place (province, town) which has a Spanish name? 1.2.3 Names of people: Of course, so many of our people have Spanish surnames: (De Los) Santos, (De La) Cruz, Bautista, Evangelista, etc. Look around the group and ask: Who among us have Spanish surnames, or even first names? 1.3 Isang Salita: Word Game Leader/Facilitator: Now, lets have a game! I want each of you to think of a Filipino word which is of Spanish origin. Example: mesa. (Give some seconds for participants to think.) Now, lets say aloud the word, beginning with the person on my left Possible words: adobo, krus, etc. The Leader/Facilitator must be ready with stock knowledge or a Spanish dictionary to refer to in case of uncertain answers. (At the end of the game) Congratulations! Muy bien! Of course, in our history, the first book printed in our country was in Spanish, the Doctrina Cristiana (Manila, 1593). Also, the major novels of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, i.e. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, were written in Spanish. 1.4 Other Shared Qualities Leader/Facilitator: Aside from words, what are other similiarities or shared qualities which we have with Spain?

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The categories below are not exhaustive; they are what could be considered as obvious or immediate shared qualities. In this portion of the activity, the Leader/Facilitator would do well to accompany the discussion with visuals (photos/pictures), which can be sourced from the internet. 1.4.1 Architecture: Stone churches (e.g. San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila; Miag-ao Church in Iloilo; Paoay and Santa Maria Churches in the Ilocos region, all of which are Baroque-styled and World Heritage Sites) which are similar to churches in Spain (e.g. Cadiz Cathedral, Basilica de San Francisco el Grande in Madrid, etc.) 1.4.2 Home: Home altars (religious images and statues with flowers, candles, etc.) located at a central or prominent place in the home 1.4.3 Food: Paella, arroz valenciana, quezo de bola, afritada, chorizo, etc. 1.4.4 Traditions: a Fiesta (usually means the feast day of the patron saint of a parish or town, where the whole community engages in a celebration with religious activities, merrymaking, meals, etc.) b Processions: el paso (in Spain) and carroza/carosa (in the Philippines) 1.4.5 Religious practices (liturgical, spiritual), such as a Semana Santa (Holy Week) b Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) c Noche Buena which literally means good night (Christmas eve)

[References: Wikipedia: Spanish influence on Filipino culture and Philippine Literature; http://bauzon.ph/leslie/papers/spinfluence.html]

1.5 Conclusion Leader/Facilitator: And so our journey of faith as young people in the universal Church brings us this 2011 to Spain, where our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has invited the youth of the world to gather for the 26th World Youth Day!

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2 The Pope writes to us! (Group reading of the Message of the Holy Father on WYD2011) This activity aims to familiarize the pilgrims with the Holy Fathers message on the occasion of the WYD2011. In doing so, we hope that each pilgrim gets some inspiration which can further help him/her in the preparations. 2.1 Introduction It is desirable that before the activity, copies of the Holy Fathers message have already been made available, either before the start of the group reading, or even earlier. Leader/Facilitator: We look forward to meeting the Holy Father in Madrid for the World Youth Day 2011, along with hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world. But what is it that this gathering hopes to be? Why did the Pope invite all of us to this 26th World Youth Day? Let us allow Pope Benedict XVI to answer our questions by reading his letter to the youth of the world (and that includes us!) in view of the WYD2011. 2.2 Group Reading In a circle, each one will take turns in reading aloud a paragraph of the message. Before the reading starts, the Leader/Facilitator will encourage each one to underline or highlight words or phrases which strike him/her. Some period of silence is observed at the end of the loud reading, before proceeding to group sharing. 2.3 Group Sharing A group sharing is done, where each one may share about the most significant word or phrase which struck him/her, and why this has touched him/her most. 2.4 Synthesis The Leader/Facilitator will synthesize the sharing, taking note of common points or items in the papal message which are significant to the journey of the group. 2.5 Conclusion The activity may end with listening to and learning the WYD2011 Theme Song, Firmes En La Fe.

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Second Sub-Group Session The general objective of this second session is to inform the WYD2011 pilgrims about practical preparations which are important for the trip to Spain for the WYD2011, which may entail the securing (through purchasing or borrowing) of certain items or personal effects or which may imply some time allotment. This session also aims to strengthen further the community life of the sub-group through the Word of God that will move them towards a concrete response of faith. 1 Para sa isang buen viaje Opening amenities (registration and acknowledgment of attendees, prayer, etc.) may precede this section. The handout with practical tips and other useful information for the trip to Spain for the WYD2011 will be the basis of the discussion of the sub-group. 2 Sowing of the seed: Gospel sharing The group comes together in prayer, using the Word of God. The seven-step Gospel sharing method is used, Luke 8:5-15 as the Gospel text. This sharing method is taken from the Lumko Institute, and adapted by the AsIPA (Asian Integral Pastoral Approach) editorial team of the FABC-Office of Laity and Family. Before the sharing begins, the Leader/Facilitator gives a brief general orientation about the steps. 2.1 We invite the Lord. Leader/Facilitator: Will someone please invite Jesus in a prayer? Someone is expected to say a short spontaneous prayer in behalf of the group. 2.2 We read the text Leader/Facilitator: Let us open (book), chapter (chapter number). The Leader/Facilitator waits until everyone has located the book and the chapter. Leader/Facilitator: Will someone please read verses (verse numbers)? After someone has read the selected verses Leader/Facilitator:

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Will someone read the same text from a different version or language, if possible? 2.3 We pick out any words and meditate on them. Leader/Facilitator: We pick out any words or short phrases, read them aloud prayerfully three (3) times, and observe some silence in between. It may help for the Leader/Facilitator to begin, to serve as a guiding example. After several have proclaimed or after feeling the group ready to move on Leader/Facilitator: We read the text again. 2.4 We let God speak to us in silence. Leader/Facilitator: We keep silence for (number of minutes) minutes and allow God to speak to us. 2.5 We share what we have heard in our hearts. Leader/Facilitator: Which word has touched us personally? What could be the message of the Lord through this word? (Important reminder or note: Please, no discussing or preaching. No monopolizing of the time.) 2.6 We discuss any task which our group is called to do. Leader/Facilitator: As a concrete response of our group to the message of the Gospel, and to be a meaningful step in our preparations for the WYD2011, our sub-group is invited to plant a tree. We will do this on (share details). We also need to discuss and agree on how to nurture it for growth until it becomes a full-grown, fruitful tree. The planting should be documented by photo. The photo documentation should be sent to the Delegation Secretariat-Formation Team by 31 July 2011. In this step too, a Word of Life can be chosen from the Scripture text by the group which everyone will try to live for the remaining period of preparation for the WYD2011. 2.7 We pray spontaneously. Leader/Facilitator:

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We invite everyone to pray from the heart. (Afterwards) We end with a prayer/song which we all know (possible song could be the WYD2011 Theme Song).

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