12,000 young pilgrims join opening of National Youth Day in Cebu

Youth deligations from different provinces gather ash Cebu City Sports center to join the procession to Basilica del Sto Niño for the opening of the 2019 National Youth Day on April 24, 2019. PHOTO by Junjie Mendoza

CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 12,000 young people joined the prayer walk and Mass to formally open the 11th National Youth Day in Cebu on Wednesday evening.

At dusk, the delegates from different places in the country walked from the Cebu City Sports Center to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino where a Mass was celebrated.

Fr. Mark Barneso, chairperson of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Youth, said the celebration aims to bringing young people closer to God.

PHOTO by Junjie Mendoza

“We gather the Filipino youth in a festive and prayerful event,” he told the Inquirer.

Cebu will be hosting the event until April 28.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has declared 2019 as the Year of the Youth.

“I’d like everybody to pray for the success of this activity,” Barneso said.

Bryner Diaz, media team head of the National Youth Day, said participants are being taken care of by foster families in Cebu.

“The Archdiocese of Cebu welcomes our young people even as we try our best to prepare for this event,” he said. /ee

PHOTO by Junjie Mendoza