By Christina Hermoso
The sixth Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE), which will be held on July 19 to 21, will focus on strengthening and enriching the faith and spiritual life of young Filipinos.
Catholic priests and lay people hold candles during a Mass to end the first Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, October 18, 2013. (CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
With the theme “Filipino Youth Walking with Jesus,” the gathering will be held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.
The Church observes 2019 as the Year of the Youth, as part of the preparations for the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
Daet Bishop Rex Alarcon will preside over the opening Misa ng Bayan on July 19. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will then hold a talk with the young attendees.
On July 20, youth ministers and their young collaborators will hold a talk on the best practices of youth ministries in different contexts. There will also be a staged reading on the young people’s clamor for a welcoming and listening Church.
On July 21, talks will focus on the theme of the Year of the Youth, “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, Empowered.” The gathering will conclude with a Holy Mass and the commissioning of missionary disciples to be led by Cardinal Tagle.
Aside from the plenary sessions, there will be 10 concurrent sessions on education, culture, mission, youth, social advocacy, catechesis, social media, new trends in youth ministry, family, and group discussions with the young (“Mga Hugot at Galak: The Joys and pains of the Filipino Youth in the Catholic Church). This year’s PCNE will be preceded with a day of encounter for the clergy and consecrated persons
His Eminence introduced PCNE in 2013 as a local response to the call for the new evangelization.