Iloilo to host Second International YOUCAT Congress

Aug 24, 2019

MANILA, Philippines: An international conference of young Catholics to explore ways of the new evangelisation will take place in Iloilo City.

Hundreds of young missionaries from different countries are expected to attend the 2nd International YOUCAT Congress at the Iloilo Convention Centre Nov 7-10, 2019.

Organised by YOUCAT Philippines, the congress is their response to the Church’s call for the new evangelisation in the Year of the Youth.

YOUCAT is a youthful version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church released in different languages in 2011.

Pope Benedict XVI personally endorsed the book as a tool for evangelisation among youth.

The congress, dubbed Arise, recalls the episode in the Gospel of Luke (7:11-17) when Jesus raised back to life the young son of the widow of Naim.

Guided by the words of Jesus, the congress aims to be an occasion for rediscovering Christ’s particular love for the young and his challenge for them to “arise” from their present conditions and become enthusiastic servant leaders, with the help of YOUCAT.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila is encouraging lay organisations, youth ministers, catechetical directors and the different religious congregations to join the event.

“I highly endorse this momentous event in the life of the Church in this part of Asia,” Cardinal Tagle said.

The Bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Youth also endorsed the congress as part of its ecclesial activities of the Year of the Youth.

Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, ECY chairman, encourages participation “to make more meaningful and fruitful our journey of preparation for the 5th Centenary of Christianity in the Philippines”.

The first international YOUCAT Congress was also held in the Philippines in 2015. --CBCP News