We pray for a papal visit, not an ‘Epal’ visit – youth

ILOILO CITY— A youth group in Iloilo marked the first anniversary of super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) by intensifying preparations for the papal visit, saying they want an event that will be marked by mercy and compassion and not attention grabbing. We saw many examples of selfless heroism of ordinary people but also of selfish greed of others who not only stole relief goods and public funds but also tried to steal the limelight (Epal),” Youth United for the Pope (YUP) convenor Paul Argamosa said, expressing the group’s collective sentiment that what happened after typhoon Yolanda could also take place during the spiritual typhoon” of the papal visit. We fear that what took place during Yolanda can happen again, with the influential and the powerful grabbing the choicest places while leaving the ordinary people in the margins,” he added during the group’s weekend recollection from Nov. 8 to 9 to discern lessons from the Yolanda experience in the light of the teachings of Pope Francis.”‘Unexpected gift’Argamosa explained, Keep in mind that prominent personalities have the means to go to Rome and meet the Pope there, while for the majority of our people this papal visit may be the only chance in their whole lifetime to see the Pope.”Expressing the thoughts of the members of the movement, the youth leader said We pray that we, as a nation, will conduct ourselves so that the people for whom the Pope will come to visit – the poor, the youth and those affected by Yolanda- can have the opportunity to meet him.”Argamosa said young people are moved to learn that the main purpose of the Apostolic visit is for the Pope to comfort the suffering people of our country, especially the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.Considering the papal visit on January 2015 an unexpected gift from God”, Argamosa recalled the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the visit. More than a year ago, we were expecting the Pope to come to the Philippines in 2016, for the International Eucharistic Congress but, no thanks to Yolanda, the Holy Father has decided to visit us a year ahead,” he said.Visiting the sick, video greetingsIn their discernment YUP members believe that Yolanda as a crisis –which means both a threat and an opportunity- brought out not only the best but, sadly, also the worst of our people.”Learning from the experience of Yolanda, members of the group said With Pope Francis’ visit imminent, we pray that this time with the proper spiritual preparation, the ‘spiritual typhoon’ will bring about only the best in our people.”Following the adage the first place to begin to change the world is within ourselves”, YUP members have resolved to respond to the Pope’s challengeand We must get out of ourselves and go toward the periphery.”Together with taking better care of their own spiritual life, especially through the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession and Marian devotions, particularly the Holy Rosary, these young people aim to reach out to more volunteer catechists to teach in public schools and to frequently visit the poor and sick.They also plan to go to the peripheral” communities to give children the chance to greet the Pope” by recording their video greetings that the group plans to send Pope Francis.Members of YUP were also elated with media reports of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario meeting with the Holy Father in Rome on Sept. 3 when the Pope reportedly told him he was looking forward” to his trip to the Philippines next January to meet the poor, the youth and those affected by the super-typhoon.”YUP is a movement organized in Iloilo to prepare young people for the papal visit.(Fr. Mickey Cardenas)