12-06-2025
Archbishop urges youth on NYD 2025: Be a close friend in discipleship
As the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines formally begins the celebration of the National Youth Day (NYD), Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon urged the youth to become each other's 'katood,' a Bicol word which means close friend or kindred spirit.
Alarcon commenced the 2025 NYD celebration with an outdoor Mass at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral on Wednesday.
'Walk, not simply because we need to walk. Walk but because we would like to show our love for God and our neighbor,' Alarcon, who heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Youth, said during his homily.
"Let us be katood to one another,' he added.
Alarcon also said one can be a close friend by sharing one's dreams, aspirations, and experiences, and by being a companion during difficult times.
'Let your friendships not simply be based on enjoyment. But let your friendships one that is nurtured in that common sense of mission and sense of purpose. Hindi lang may pinagsamahan kung hindi may malalim na pinagsamahan (not just a simple friendship but a deep attachment),' he said.
With the theme 'Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer,' this year's NYD runs from June 11 to 14.
According to a CBCP News report, over 8,000 delegates from 84 of the country's 87 ecclesiastical territories are participating in the celebration.
Make the first, succeeding steps
Alarcon also called on the youth to embody three characteristics in being disciples of Jesus Christ: courage, undying hope and perseverance.
'In the journey of life, one has to make a step. This means to walk, to jump. Do not remain in the realm of wishes and dreams. Realize. Bring things to reality,' Alarcon said.
As he acknowledged that becoming disciples comes with obstacles, Alarcon reminded the youth that the 'easiest way to fail is not to try.'
'Life's journey is not simply travel. It is a pilgrimage — a journey with Jesus. And that pilgrimage, we call discipleship,' Alarcon said.
'To become victorious over skepticism, we must always take the first step. It is to walk with hope so that we may reach our destination,' he added.
In 1986, the CBCP declared December 16 as National Youth Day. Since 1998, national celebrations of NYD have been held every two or three years.
The Archdiocese of Cebu hosted the 2019 NYD.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYD in the Archdiocese of Caceres was postponed in 2021. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
