- svd-prms
- / PHN
- / Formation / Meeting
Young SVDs Gather for Renewal and Brotherhood
Jhun Joel L. Templa, SVD
The gathering was guided by a threefold purpose: Updating, Spiritual Nourishment, and Fraternal Bonding, pillars that reflect the SVD’s missionary identity and call to service.
The assembly commenced on the evening of May 19 with a solemn Holy Spirit Devotion, invoking divine guidance as the young confreres began their shared journey. The devotion set the tone for the days ahead, grounding the participants in prayer and openness to the Spirit.
The second day began with the celebration of the Holy Mass, centering the group in the Eucharist, the heart of missionary life. The morning sessions were filled with meaningful sharing, as participants recounted their missionary experiences, both the challenges and triumphs across the province.
One of the central themes of the discussion was vocation promotion. The group reflected on how they, as young SVDs, could take an active role in nurturing vocations within the province. They also proposed formation programs that would empower young missionaries to be more effective and resilient in their diverse mission contexts.
The afternoon offered a well-deserved moment of recreation and fraternal bonding, as the group visited a local waterfall for swimming and relaxation, reconnecting not just with one another but also with nature. The evening concluded with a simple social gathering, allowing for laughter, stories, and a deepening of their communal ties.
The final day was marked by a thanksgiving Mass, where the young missionaries lifted their hearts in gratitude for the gift of vocation, the joy of brotherhood, and the continuing call to mission. Special thanks were extended to Rev. Fr. Louie Cris Gregorio, SVD, the Rector of the St. Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission, whose community generously hosted the gathering.
As the SVD worldwide commemorates 150 years since its founding, the SVD-PhN Young SVDs leave this gathering with renewed zeal, inspired to continue “bringing the Light of the Word to the World.” This assembly was an experience of communion, a rekindling of purpose, and a joyful witness to the vitality of the SVD mission in the Philippine Northern Province.
