Last November 20-27, 2009, two thousand energetic young Asians, together with their bishops and priests, gathered in the Philippines for YAsia Fiesta, the Fifth Asian Youth Day with the theme: Young Asians: Come Together, Share the Word, Live the Eucharist.

This year’s YAsia Fiesta objectives were: to renew one’s faith in, and love for, the Word of God and the Eucharist; to celebrate youthfully the Word and the Eucharist in Asian cultures and communities; to become agents of transformation by living out the Word and the Eucharist in the Asian context. So this year’s YAsia Fiesta took its theme from the gospel text of St. John, 6:1-14, where Christ feeds the five thousand.

Before the formal opening of the gathering in the Diocese of Imus, the delegates had their family and parish exposure during their “Days in the Diocese”, hosted by ten nearby dioceses. With their first-hand experience of the church youth in action, they were immersed in Filipino families in the diocese, and involved in parish activities.

YAsia Fiesta formally started with an opening mass at Imus Cathedral, presided by Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, the Bishop of Imus, together with concelebrating bishops and priests. In his homily, Bishop Tagle reminded all the delegates of their role as young people of Asia. Furthermore, he encouraged everyone to draw inspiration from the readings that day, taken from the book of Daniel (Dn 1:1-6, 8-20), where four young people proclaimed the word of God. Through this, the bishop challenged the youth “to share the word of God [after AYD] even to kings and emperors, and to face them with wisdom and prudence, but also with much love, because when you bear the word of God there is nothing to fear”. A model that Bishop Tagle proposed from the gospel (Lk. 21:1-4) was the poor widow who gave away everything she had, just like Jesus who gave everything. Above all, Bishop Tagle persuaded everyone to “proclaim, share the word with wisdom, prudence, with much faith and love and like Jesus, and give your all, but do it together…let it be not only a personal commitment to proclaim the Word, to live the Eucharist, but let it be a community event. Let it form our community, let our community be a community gathered together by the common Word that we share and the common Eucharist that we break. Translating it into a lifestyle of breaking time and resources....”

The second day’s theme focused on The Voice of the Word in Many Cultures. The YAsian delegates asked Jesus, during their morning prayer, for perseverance in living out his Word until his Word become a part of their lives and their lives became a living Gospel. Afterwards, Most Rev. Cornelius Sim of the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei-Darussalam explained and guided all those who were present in understanding this theme during the plenary session on “YAsians, Come Together and Celebrate the Word.” On the afternoon of that same day, the delegates got involved in another interesting activity which was the Subregional Session where the youth were divided into four different clusters (subregions) namely: East and Central Asia, South East Asia 1 and 2, and South Asia. Groups shared, with delegates overcoming language barriers, on The Voice of the Word: Revelation, The Face of the Word: Jesus, The House of the Word: Church and The Roads of the Word: Mission-- themes of the last Synod of Bishops on the Word last two years ago. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist in each Subregion capped the afternoon Subregional Sessions. Later on that evening, a liturgical concert was held in the main hall where everybody had a chance to listen to the songs rendered by the Bukas-palad Music Ministry and the singing priests of the Diocese of Imus.

Taken, Blessed, Broken and Shared became the third day’s theme. And just like the story of the multiplication of the bread in John’s gospel, the youths were challenged to do the same, that is, to put themselves in God’s hands to be blessed, broken and shared. Moreover, their prayer was centered around asking the Lord for a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist, and for His sacrifice may become the main source in their ministering to the lost, the least and the last in the community. The youth came to a deeper awareness of the theme through the plenary session on “YAsians, Love and Live the Eucharist” given by the Archbishop of Shillong (India), Arch. Dominic Jala. Related to the theme for the day, an activity was organized for all the delegates to embark on-- a journey with Christ- the Yasian Walk, a Eucharist celebrated in a different but very meaningful way, guided by a Gospel text which was the EMMAUS STORY. At every station and on every step of the YAsian Walk, the youth aimed at better understanding their journey in life with the Eucharist as their companion. The different stations were guided by questions that helped everyone reflect on this endeavour––not only the delegates themselves, but also the volunteers and bishops and priests alike. The day did not end with the YAsian walk, but this spiritual journey continued in the evening with the vigil. An atmosphere of contemplation and adoration was created when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. It became a night solely for the Lord; confessions were available for all delegates and counselings were done simultaneously. It was a night many participants treasured most, for they felt closer to God.

The fourth day was guided by the theme “The Word in Many Religions in Asia”. At the start of their morning prayer, the youth were led in asking for the grace to be able to proclaim God’s salvation to all through the Word and the Eucharist. They prayed that as YAsians united through the Word and the Eucharist, they might become His heart and hands towards those who needed His presence and love. Furthermore through Joseph Cardinal Zen, of the Diocese of Hong Kong, in his talk on “Mission: Road of the Word and Eucharist”, the youth came to a better understanding of their missions as Asians. For the youth to be aware and also equipped with the skills in handling issues concerning the theme, more than 60 simultaneous workshops were conducted by experts in the afternoon of that day. The last evening of the Asian Youth Day was devoted to cultural presentations where every country got the chance to showcase their talents and traditions through dances and songs.

Finally the day came when the youths had to say goodbye to their new-found friends, friends whom they treated as their second brothers and sisters throughout the YAsia Fiesta. The Asian Youth Day culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided by the Secretary General of FABC, Most Rev. Arch. Orlando B. Quevedo, together with bishops and priests and the Papal Nuncio, Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams.

The whole AYD was not only a gathering of youths coming from different Asian countries, but it was also a family gathering centered around sharing the Word and Living the Eucharist. Indeed, the AYD’s success moved Bishop Tagle to tears, as he saw the fruit of the days and months of intense preparation and formation, and watched all the young energetic Asians enveloped by the Love of God. Above all, the Asian Youth Day was a coming together and a celebration of God’s Living Word renewed and recreated in every Asian, and through them the Bread of Life brought about A NEW SEASON OF GRACE!

Dexter Ian Rivera

We, the AYD delegates and volunteers, were well presented with the reality of the Church as bishops, priests, religious, and lay youth leaders were trying to contribute ideas and experiences in order to proclaim the Gospel. With much openness and humility, each one was ready to listen, to share and to partake in the sufferings and joys that the youths were experiencing in the different aspects of life nowadays. As a youth, I felt the desire and eagerness to change myself and be a better Christian, to renew my faith and service to God in a concrete way. I know that the demands of the world and its lures are strong and at times, we young people, don’t know where to start. But now after the AYD, with so many graces, it’s up to us to face the challenges “in sharing the Word and living the Eucharist” concretely, aware that it is a personal and collective mission that the Church has entrusted to us young people.
Faisa, Philippines

It was really a grace to be able to attend the AYD. I really felt that we were one family even though we were from different countries. I felt that we were brothers and sisters united in one Father in heaven. I felt that the Holy Spirit was guiding us and that Jesus was present among us during the event. It was so easy to smile at each other and so after AYD, it’s a challenge for us to do our part in sharing the Word through our lives.
Kristina, Indonesia

With all the delegates of AYD, I witnessed all their passion and the great efforts they exerted for the occasion. Even if they faced language barriers, it was not a burden for them. They were really celebrating the Eucharist and living the Word together. I felt sure of this-- Jesus was among them-- in their words and behavior. Together with them during the Eucharistic celebration, I was able to say, “ Here is the Church!”
Vincent, Korea