All prepared for the Fourth Sabah Youth Day

May 02, 2016

By Julita Kantod
Sabah Youth Day (SYD) is a Church event in collaboration with the youth, for the youth and of the youth. The success of the Youth Jubilee Celebration in 2000 led to an agreement between the Youth Commission of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu and the Youth Apostolate of the Keningau diocese to continue this programme once every four years.

Prior to the event proper, the symbolic journey of the Youth Cross will be brought to the identified churches in the entire arch/dioceses in Sabah, before its final destination at the host of the event.

This time, the Diocese of Sandakan is hosting the 4th Sabah Youth Day 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Tawau. The event will be held from June 6-10, 2016. The Youth Cross is about to reach its final destination, 60 days as of now.

St Jude Semporna, an outstation church under Holy Trinity Parish, Tawau, is the first station for the Youth Cross in the parish. The handing over ceremony was on Sunday April 3 at 3.00pm.

The handing over process was witnessed by some 400 parishioners, including the youth of St Jude Semporna, representatives of the Holy Trinity Church, St Dominic Lahad Datu and St Peter Kunak. The handing-over ceremony of the Youth Cross and Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary began with the formal addresses from both, the youth leaders of the handing over and the receiving churches.

This was followed with the handing over of the Youth Cross to the young people of St Jude. The selected youth carried the Cross and the Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary in solemn procession, followed by all parishioners, from the main gate to the entrance of St Jude’s Church.

A sketch depicting the meaning of the Cross in the life of today’s youth was presented by the local youth upon entering the church as a reflection for all parishioners present.

The Symbolic Youth Cross was later placed inside the church. This was then followed by the Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by Rev Fr Philip A. Muji, the assistant rector of Holy Trinity Church, Tawau.

In his homily, Fr Philip spoke on the meaning of the Cross in the life of a Catholic faithful.

“Life without the Cross is meaningless,” he said. The cross symbolizes humility, faith, determination, strength and hope. As you go about your daily life, you need time to understand your own ‘Cross.’ Recognize it and learn from every part of your Cross so that you will prepare spiritually and mentally to face the reality of ‘Youth’ in today’s environment. With this, you may recognize the meaning of the Cross in your life and sustain your faithfulness in God.”

He concluded by calling upon all youth, “Dear young people, you are the pillars of the Church, now and in the future. Learn to recognize your cross, lift it and embrace it so that you may be prepared to face the situations of life around you.”

After the Holy Mass, parishioners witnessed the handing over of a book called Buku Harapan which, among others, include the hope, aspiration and expectation of each participant in the upcoming SYD4