January 10, 2026
Mondragon, Northern Samar — Young people from clustered chapels in Barangay Nenita and nearby communities gathered at St. Joseph Chapel last December 22, 2025 for a whole-day celebration of National Youth Day, held in time for Advent.
Participants came from Cablangan, Talolora, Sitio Canamocan, Sitio Canawa, Mirador, De Maria, and Nenita, which serves as the center of the chapel clusters. The event was organized under the guidance of Fra Joachim Paz, priest-in-charge of the chapel, to strengthen youth participation in the ministry of the Church.
Guest speakers included Sister Adelle Loun of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, assigned in Dolores, Eastern Samar, and Fra Raphael Ysulan from Parañaque City, Metro Manila. Sister Adelle spoke on the Christmas experience of St. Clare of Assisi, introducing the youth to Franciscan spirituality, while Fra Raphael led an Advent recollection to prepare them for the celebration of Christmas.
The gathering also served as a venue for catechesis and formation, addressing the challenges of distance and transportation that often limit youth involvement in parish activities. Organizers emphasized the importance of such encounters in building unity among the chapels and deepening the faith of the young participants.
As the day concluded, the youth left with a renewed sense of purpose. Sister Adelle’s reminder of St. Clare’s joyful devotion and Fra Raphael’s call to active Advent preparation resonated deeply, encouraging them to embrace their identity as youth of the Church—vibrant, committed, and ready to serve.
Author
Fra Raphael Ysulan, OFMConv.
