OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH
MABALACAT CITY, PAMPANGA
PHILIPPINES
Time & Location
Apr 30, 2020, 6:00 AM
Our Lady of Grace Parish, along, MacArthur Highway, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines
About The Event
CONCEPT PAPER
I. INTRODUCTION
Youth Celebrations unite the youth from Our Lady of Grace Parish, Our Lady of Victory
Parish, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Parish of the Lord’s Resurrection, San Rafael Arkanghel Parish,
Christ the Prince of Peace Parish, San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish.
These youth gatherings are commonly dynamic and lively, in order to bring euphoric memories
to these young participants. However, it must always be kept in mind that youth celebrations
also come with meaningful silence and moments of individual reflection in order to deepen
one’s personal connection with the Almighty.
With that being stated, Summer Youth Festival is an event where the youth of eight
different parishes under the Vicariate of the Holy Spirit will gather as ONE. For this year 2020, it
will be the 13th time where the Vicariate will be holding Su’Yo Fest. This celebration is also known
as the most anticipated event in the Vicariate. Youth leaders and members not only in the
present generation, but also from previous generations are usually kindled in the excitement
that Su’Yo brings. Nonetheless, Su’Yo Fest does not only create new boundaries, but also reunite
connections that were created from past generations.
II. BACKGROUND AND THEME
The theme for this year’s Summer Youth Fest celebration is, “That ALL May Be ONE” (John
17:21). The theme originates from the Gospel of John which speaks, “that all of them may be
one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may
believe that you have sent me”. With the given theme, that youth members are generally called
to be in communion with one another – whatever orientation, status, or religion that an individual
belongs to. Moreover, the youth are taught the idea of inclusivity – where everyone is accepted,
amidst all boundaries.
The theme is also timely for the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous
Peoples. As the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) cited in CBCP News, this
special year aims to celebrate “the human fraternity by promoting the culture of dialogue as a
path to peace”. In addition, the year also aims to strive for general unity and harmony while
respecting individual differences and acknowledging the identities, traditions and beliefs of
indigenous peoples.
As a whole, for this year’s Su’Yo Fest, the young people are reminded to be in solidarity
with one another as after all, we are relational beings. In line with this, each young person is
reminded to give equal respect to every individual and to recognize the great diversity which is
present in today’s society.