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“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns

my darkness into light” Psalms 18:28
July 22-25, 2024
ARCHDIOCESE OF JARO

Regional Youth Coordinating Council

of Western Visayas and Romblon
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PRIMER
I. Introduction
II. The Regional Youth Day 2024
III. Invitation from the WVRRYCC and
Archdiocese of Jaro
IV. The Delegation
V. Registration
VI. Practical Information
VII. Contact
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What is the Regional Youth Day?

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) recognizes that
the youth constitute the largest segment of our population, and play a
pivotal role in driving positive change within the Church and society.
However, they are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of the
evolving technological landscape. We acknowledge their talents and
significant potential to embody the Christian ideal in their personal lives
and within the broader societal context. The church’s commitment
involves engaging in dialogue, immersing in their experiences, and
accompanying them on their journey toward the maturity of Christ.

In response to this, the Regional Youth Coordinating Council of Western

Visayas and Romblon, comprised of the Archdioceses of Jaro and Capiz,
and the Dioceses of Antique, Kalibo, Romblon, Bacolod, Kabankalan and
San Carlos, organized the 1st Regional Youth Day celebration last
October 2000.
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The Previous Regional Youth Day Celebrations

Date Host Diocese Theme
RYD October Diocese of Bacolod Dali na… Upod ta…
2000 27-29 Maghiusa sa Santissima
Trinidad

RYD May Archdiocese of Capiz You are the salt of the

2002 2-5 Earth… You are the light
of the world
RYD October Diocese of Antique Filipino Youth: Be
2003 21-24 peacemakers and renew
the Earth
RYD December Archdiocese of Jaro We have come to
2005 27-30 worship Him

RYD April Diocese of Romblon Your word is a lamp to

2007 18-21 our feet and a light to
our path

RYD April Diocese of Kabankalan Through the power of

2009 21-24 the Holy Spirit who lives
in us, keep the good
things that have been
entrusted to you

RYD April Diocese of Kalibo Stand firm in faith… Do

2011 26-29 all your works in love

RYD April Diocese of San Carlos Youth: People of hope,

2013 15-18 one in faith, serving in
love, thru the Eucharist

RYD April Diocese of Bacolod Go give God with

2015 13-16 gladness

RYD April Archdiocese of Capiz YM.com - Youth God’s

2017 23-25 Messenger in the
Community

RYD October Diocese of Antique Filipino Youth, I am:

2019 28-31 Beloved, Gifted and
Empowered to
Evangelize
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As we gather to celebrate the vibrancy and dynamism of our youth, we believe

that the Archdiocese, with its rich history and commitment to nurturing the
younger generation's faith, would provide an ideal setting for this significant
event. We envision a Regional Youth Day that not only provides a platform for
addressing contemporary challenges but also strengthens the devotion to
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, the patroness of Western Visayas, fostering
a sense of community and faith among the young participants.

The celebration will be guided by the theme

“Pilgrims of Hope, Bearers of Light”

The theme anticipates the forthcoming Ordinary Jubilee Year in 2025 which is
dedicated to the virtue of Hope. According to Pope Francis in his letter to the
President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, the
theme “Pilgrims of Hope” attempts to “fan the flame of hope that has been
given us” in order that everyone will be able to “gain new strength and
certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-
sighted vision.”
The line “Bearers of Light” has been closely associated with the growing
devotion of the faithful of Western Visayas and Romblon to the miraculous
image of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria. Mary is the bearer of Jesus, the Light
of the World. Like her, we are called to become bearers of the Light of Christ.
In his Apostolic Letter to the youth “Christus Vivit”, Pope Francis writes that
“Mary is the Mother who watches over us, her children, on our journey through
life, often weary and in need, anxious that the light of hope will not fail. For
that is our desire: that the light of hope never fails. Mary our Mother looks to
this pilgrim people: a youthful people whom she loves, and who seek her in
the silence of their hearts amid all the noise, the chatter and the distractions
of the journey. Under the gaze of our Mother, there is room only for the silence
of hope. Thus Mary illumines anew our youth” (CV, 48)

“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light”
Psalms 18:28
Psalms 18:28 reminds us of God's faithfulness to His covenant. It gives us a
beacon of hope, encouraging us to look to Him as our only source and trust
that He will guide us through any hardship or difficult times. Through His Word
and the Holy Spirit, God reveals spiritual truths that reshape our thinking and
attitudes. This verse can also be seen as a call to self-reflection and personal
growth, urging us to look within for direction to light our path and overcome
challenges. In addition to seeking help from our faith, we can develop a strong
connection with God and place our trust in His guidance, giving us the courage
and strength to face any obstacle that may arise.
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#
The whole logo resembles the Jaro Belfry that
symbolizes the host archdiocese for this
year’s Regional Youth Day of Western Visayas
and Romblon. The belfry houses church bells
that call the people of God to gather for
prayer and worship. The symbol of the church
belfry calls young people throughout the
region to gather as one regional youth
ministry for a week of prayer, fun, fellowship,
and encounter.

Nanay Candelaria
At the center of the logo is the prominent silhouette of “Nanay Candelaria” - a
term of endearment devotees fondly call her - Nuestra Señora dela
Candelaria, the patroness of Jaro and Western Visayas. Mary, as the Lady of
Candles, is the bearer of Jesus, who is the Light of the World. In a unique way,
She radiates the light She received from Jesus, Her Son. From her shines eight
rays representing the eight archdioceses and diocese participating the
Regional Youth Days.

Perdon
The perdon candles has been strongly associated to Nuestra Señora dela
Candelaria. In times of calamity, uncertainty, and danger, this devotional
candle becomes a symbol of hope for Nanay Candelaria’s devotees. Whenever
they light this blessed candle, it becomes a source of their comfort and peace.
Symbolically, the Perdon represents Mary as the Bearer of the Light of Christ.
The halo and the flame represents Jesus as the Light of the World and the
Bread of Life - the Eucharist himself.

Pilgrims on a Journey
The two pilgrims are not just holding the candle; they carry the light on their
voyage. The pilgrims in a boat represent all of us as the Pilgrim Church. Amidst
the turbulent waves and stormy seas, the Light of Jesus and the unending aid
of the Blessed Virgin Mary become our beacon of hope. The two pilgrims
represent the two metropolitan archdioceses of Western Visayas and
Romblon - the Archdiocese of Jaro and the Archdiocese of Capiz.
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At the heart of the Archdiocese of Jaro is Nuestra

Señora dela Candelaria, patroness of Jaro and Western
Visayas. The devotion to Nanay Candelaria grew together
with how her image miraculously grew throughout
centuries. It all started when, in the year 1587, some
fishermen found the foot-tall statue of Our Lady along the
banks of the Iloilo River. At first, they decided to bring it to
the nearby church of La Paz; however, to their surprise, the
statue became unbearable to carry even by several men.
When another fisherman thought of bringing her statue to
Jaro, the foot-tall statue of Our Lady eventually became easy to be carried by
a single person. At that point, they realized that Nanay Candelaria wanted to
have her home in Jaro.
The Church of Jaro was just canonically erected as a parish under the
patronage of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Several years later in
October 1636, the patronage of the Parish of Jaro shifted to Nuestra Señora
dela Candelaria, whose image is being venerated in the said church. Her image
was enthroned in a niche of the facade of the Cathedral. Since the time of her
founding and enthronement, numerous miracles have happened, notably the
miraculous growth of the foot-tall stone statue of Our Lady up until the
present. There were also stories and testimonies of devotees and Jareños that
while the niche where the “Señora” was enthroned was covered with heavy
fog, a beautiful woman can be seen bathing her son by the well found at the
plaza; or a light can be seen at the niche where Señora can be found.
For numerous occasions, Nanay Candelaria also wanted the presence of
her bishop every time her statue was transferred, especially during the
completion of the new cathedral. Based on stories of her devotees, she wants
to be close and reachable to her children as much as possible. Back in the
1870s, upon the completion of the new cathedral, the statue of the Virgin
refused to be taken from her place in the old church. The parishioners
suspected that transferring to another shrine does appeal to the Virgin. So
they, led by Archbishop Mariano Cuartero, prayed and said Masses to
convince her, even when the sky thundered and flashed. Moved by their
supplication, the Virgin consented and was installed in her new home at the
cathedral after a solemn procession. Another significant account can be
recalled when, a few days prior to the Papal Visit of Saint John Paul II in Jaro
in 1981, workers had the difficulty of bringing the statue of Our Lady from her
niche to the balcony for the coronation. The heavy-duty chains would break
numerous times; only until the then-Auxiliary Bishop Alberto Piamonte
himself thought of wearing his full episcopal regalia and witness the operation
of the transfer of Our Lady’s statue from her former abode to her current-day
location at the balcony of the cathedral did they become successful.
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On February 21, 1981 during the Papal Visit of St. Pope John Paul II,
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria of Jaro was canonically crowned. The image
has the distinct honor of being the only Marian image in Asia to be crowned
by a Pope and Saint.
As Patroness of Jaro, Nanay Candelaria has seen its growth from being
a parish to becoming the Diocese of Jaro. I later on gave birth to sufragan
dioceses when it was elevated into an Archdiocese on June 29, 1951. It is, thus,
fitting for Pope Saint John Paul II to proclaim Nanay Candelaria as the
Patroness of Western Visayas. In 2012, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines declared Jaro Cathedral as the National Shrine of Our Lady of
Candles.
Throughout the years, more and more devotees grew their love for Nanay
Candelaria and embraced her as Iloy, not only of Jesus, but also our Iloy. From
the moment she was found by the river, until she journeyed with the people
of Jaro, until she mothered the entire Western Visayas region, we can truly say
that Our Mother lovingly awaits us home in Jaro.

The #RYD2024Jaro will offer various activities such as group dynamics,

personal reflections, catechesis, prayer and sacraments, interaction with local
culture and fellowship with fellow pilgrims. A unique experience to this
#RYD2024Jaro is the pilgrims’ encounter of Jareños devotion to Nuestra
Seniora de la Candelaria.
Each day of the program will center on the story of Nuestra Señora de la
Candelaria of Jaro.
Day 1 COMING HOME
As we begin our RYD 2024 experience, we look forward to meeting
our Mother who looks after her children, both near and far, to share
our stories and experiences in our journey of faith and hope.
The first day will be a homecoming celebration to all the children of
Nanay Candelaria within Western Visayas and Romblon, a
celebration of faith and culture, where we will find a sense of family
and fellowship as we start rediscovering the roots of our identity as
Children of God and of Nanay Candelaria.
Day 2 DISCOVERY
Just as how we discover the image of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria
and know the direction where she wanted to find her home, we also
discover the light of Christ in our lives where we are called to
encounter Him wherever He may be found.
On the second day of our journey, we focus on the discovery of
personal traits and the uniqueness of our families and communities.
We also learn to discover how to be bearers of light.
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Day 3 GROWTH
With the growth of the image of Nanay Candelaria throughout the
years, so is to how long now Our Lady listened to the petitions of her
devotees and the unfolding of history before her admirable sight
from the niche and balcony of the Cathedral.
The third day will be a day of capacity building which will focus on
equipping the participants to identify issues affecting the youth of
today and how to address these.

Day 4 FIAT
As we end our RYD2024Jaro journey, we begin the day at dawn with
a procession toward the home of Nanay Candelaria. As we close our
festivities, we will be commissioned to become bearers of light and
proclaim out fiat. Just as Mary carries Jesus, the source of light, we
say yes to our mission of being the light in our communities.

These activities are geared not only to offer a fun and festive celebration but
also to deepen the faith of our young people to become ‘bearers of light’ in
their different and unique mission areas.

The Archdiocese is aiming to provide at least 500 homes to house the young
people from Western Visayas and Romblon.

As part of every RYD experience, hosting the participants in families for the
Regional Youth Day is a great opportunity to gather in the home of a host
family to share, grow, and encourage one another in love and faith. The
psychology of a home creates a safe space for young people to come as they
are and fosters a sense of belongingness. The main purpose of the gathering
is to safeguard and nourish the communion of life and love of the family and
to strengthen the bond between Catholic families in the Church.
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The WV-R Regional Youth Coordinating Council, along with the Archdiocese
of Jaro, invites all the 7 ecclesiastical territories in the Region to send
delegations of their young people to the RYD2024Jaro. The RYCC Director and
the Archbishop of Jaro wrote letters of invitation to the Local Ordinaries. As a
sign that the invitation is accepted, the Local Ordinary should endorse the
forming of a delegation from his/her ecclesiastical territory or youth
organization by accomplishing and sending the DRF1, with the assistance of
the youth ministry office.

Each Archdiocese / Diocese participating in RYD2024Jaro is to be

coordinated and represented by a Head of Delegation and an Assistant.

The Archdiocese of Jaro is to be coordinated and represented by a Head

of Delegation and an Assistant.

For purposes of registration, the Heads of Delegation should be the

ones in charge of the registration process and the focal or point person
in the representation of their Archdiocese or pilgrims for easy and
uniform information dissemination.

Archdiocesan Delegation Head

Jackelyn Maghopoy

Archdiocesan Asst. Delegation Head

John Tentia
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The delegation is composed of young people who belong to the

particular church which the delegation represents. These young people
are accompanied by youth ministers who may be clergy, religious or lay
adults.
Since the delegation is sent to a youth event, its composition
should be of young people, i.e. 80% of the total number are youth. It will
be well to keep a balanced representation of male and female youth.
The following are other basic criteria for pilgrims:
Youth
• At least 15 and at most 39 years of age
• Belongs to the diocese/ organization represented by the
delegation
• If a minor (below 18 years of age): Carries a written
authorization from parent/s allowing the child to
participate in the RYD2024Jaro under the supervision of the
Delegation Head
Youth Minister
• Actively involved in the youth ministry of the
diocese/organization represented by the delegation
• Between 20-50 years of age

It is highly encouraged that all participants undergo a formation

to be spiritually prepared in this RYD2024Jaro
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Each Parish is allocated 3 slots for its delegation preferably two (2) of which
are youth pilgrims, while the remaining one (1) slot is for the youth minister
(clergy, religious and/or lay) accompanying them.

Additional slots may be requested by the delegation, the request for which
should be specified in the DRF1. The assessment of requests for these
additional slots shall depend on the initial turnout of the registration. Available
slots from the initial turnout, if any, will be distributed on a first-come, first-
serve basis.

Registration Fee
As part of the registration process, each delegate is asked to submit a
Registration Fee as one’s personal share in the considerable resources
required for a big event like the RYD.

The amount for the Individual Registration Fee is Php 2,500.00 which is
broken down* to the following:

Food and Venue Php 1,200.00

Transportation Php 300.00
(RYD Venues to Host Parishes v.v.)
Speakers Php 500.00
Kits Php 450.00
RYCC Solidarity Share Php 50.00

*The Archdiocesan Organizing Team reserves the right to reallocate the budget based
on the need for a specific item.

Given the above instructions on the invitation, dioceses and

organizations forming a delegation to the RYD2024Jaro are then asked
to follow this registration process, which consists of three (3) phases:

A delegation is registered using the RYD2024Jaro Delegation

Registration Form 1 (Jaro DRF1). After completing the form, the scanned
copy (or clear photo) must be submitted via email to
ryd2024jaro@gmail.com no later than May 10, 2024.
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1. Individual Registration Forms (IRF1), guidelines, and waivers will

be distributed to all Parishes.
2. The parish priests and/or parish youth coordinators are
responsible for screening and distributing registration forms to
participants (see guidelines for screening).
3. Once participants have completed the form, the parish youth
coordinator will collect all registration forms and submit them to
the Archdiocesan Delegation Head.
4. Payments for Registration must be sent via Fund Transfer through
the following channel:

BANK TRANSFER:
QUEENBANK
(Queen City Development Bank)
Acct Name: RCAJ-JAYC
Acct Number: 008-02-00255-2
Branch: Mapa

5. Mandatory submission of a recommendation/endorsement letter

(the template is available in the online application form), signed
by their Parish Priest, together with the official list of Pilgrims.
6. A LIABILITY WAIVER AND HEALTH FORM should be duly
accomplished by each Pilgrim. This will also be available to
download online.
7. Deadline of the Consolidated Forms will be on June 1, 2024, and
the payment period will be from June 1, 2024 until June 22, 2024.

1. The delegates from the Archdiocese of Jaro must register upon

arrival on July 22, 2024, at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, the
registration site designated for the Archdiocese of Jaro.
2. Only the group leaders are allowed to register their delegation.
3. Pilgrims will receive kits, t-shirts, and individual IDs indicating
their foster parents and assigned workshop topics.
4. Two (2) accomplished Waivers of each pilgrim must be submitted
during the registration process.
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Travel Arrangements
All members of the delegation should have the same travel arrangements in
arriving for the RYD2024Jaro. While it may be preferred that the delegation
also leaves together after the event, different dates of departure may be
accepted; however, the hosting offered by the host-archdiocese ceases once
the delegation deregisters on the last day of the gathering.

Preparing for the RYD2024Jaro

Each delegation which is confirmed after the Second Phase of the
Registration Process will receive, through the Delegation Head, materials and
resources for the preparatory phase, as well as further information and
updates about the RYD2024Jaro. These will be sent primarily through email.

At the onset, delegations are requested to submit and keep a realistic number
of participants. Since, in a manner of speaking, the group begins the
RYD2024Jaro pilgrimage not only upon arrival in Jaro but even in their own
origins months before the RYD2024Jaro, it will be well to have everyone
onboard throughout the pilgrimage, i.e. from the preparations up until the
event itself, and even after.

Policy on Cancellation and Replacement of Registered Participants

Once the second phase of the registration is confirmed, the
registration fee is 100% non-refundable.

The delegation will have the option to replace the slot with
a participant of the same status from the same
Archdiocese/Diocese. The workshop assignments of the
cancelled participants will be carried over to the persons
replacing them.
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For concerns and inquiries, you may contact the Archdiocesan Organizing
Committee through the following:
Facebook Page:
Regional Youth Day 2024 - Western Visayas & Romblon

Contact Numbers:

Committee Contact Person Contact Number

Fr. Julius Revesencio +63 949 992 9030

Secretariat
Ada Elaurza +63 917 622 0840

John Kevin Raymundo +63 921 467 5889

Archdiocesan Jackelyn Maghopoy +63 968 244 9261

Delegation
Heads John Tentia +63 985 887 1619
+63 927 088 0865