Be honest in a ‘world full of lies,’ Dominican youth told in Adonai 2016

MORE THAN 700 students from Dominican-run schools across the country were urged to be truthful in a “world full of lies,” in the “Adonai 2016” vigil at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila.

Richard Pazcoguin, head of the UST Center for Campus ministry, urged the youth to tell the truth amid a prevailing culture of dishonesty.

Students must forgive and continuously show “Mercy and Compassion,” Pope Francis’ theme for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which ends this month.

“[Kapag] sinabi natin ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,’ we may not be ready to forgive yet. But if you repeat [those words] over and over again, our hearts will follow what the mouths are saying,” Pazcoguin said.

During Holy Mass for Adonai, Letran Rector Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, O.P., said the youth should not incite fear but bring courage.

“Bilang mga kabataan, mahalagang mahalaga na kayo ang mamuno sa pagpapahayag at pagsasabuhay [ng mga katagang] ‘huwag matakot,’” Marquez said in his homily.

“Kaya nga dapat tayo huwag matakot, kaya nga tayo dapat magtiyaga, dahil naniniwala tayo na may magandang bukas. Ang bukas na iyon ang tinatawag nating happy ending. At ang happy ending sa kuwentong ito ay kaligtasan,” he said.

Youth participants from 20 Dominican-run schools including UST, Siena College and Angelicum College joined the vigil organized by the Dominican Network Youth Group on Nov. 12 to 13.

Speakers included Gabriel Kintanar, former UST Central Student Council president; Manuel Zamora, former director of the Letran Center for Community Development; Sr. Cecilia Espenilla O.P. of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena; and Bro. JC Libiran of the Feast Manila.